US defence research opens its doors
With nearly half the doctorate holders in science and engineering in the US being foreign-born, the US government is waking up to the futility of keeping them out of or severely restricting their participation in high-level federal research.
By Urmi A Goswami, TNN |
NEW DELHI: Indians could soon find greater opportunities in defence-related research in the US. With nearly half the doctorate holders in science and engineering in the US being foreign-born, the US government is waking up to the futility of keeping them out of or severely restricting their participation in high-level federal research.
The department of defense (DoD) is considering amending its rules to relax security requirements for foreign workers. This would mean US federally-sponsored research will be more accessible by foreign scientists and researchers.
The DoD has put up its proposed amendment to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement up for public comments.
One outcome of the proposed amendment is greater openness of US federally-sponsored research to foreign scientists and researchers. While there is apprehension among respondents that the proposed changes would affect national security, the DoD maintains that restricting foreign participation may deprive the US of ”capabilities that result in essential contributions to maintaining US military superiority.”
The DoD is of the view that national security as it related to research and development involves a balancing act. The decision to relax rules that restrict foreign participation in federally-sponsored research can perhaps be explained by the changing nature of science and engineering manpower in the US.
Census-based estimates of the proportion of foreign-born scientists and engineers working in the US in science and engineering occupations showed a steep increase between 1990 and ’00.
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The rate of increase has been phenomenal. A report by the US National Science Foundation revealed that in ’00, approximately half of all doctorate holders among engineers — physical, life, and computer scientists — and mathematicians were foreign born. Among computer scientists and mathematicians, more than one-third of masters degree holders and approximately one-fifth of bachelors degree holders were foreign born.
In such a situation, barring foreign scientists and researchers from federally-funded projects may prove to be counterproductive.
The DoD, in its response to public comments, has said,”The revisions to the proposed rule attempt to strike the needed balance by interfering as little as possible with the university research infrastructure for fundamental research, while ensuring that contractors comply with their responsibilities under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Export Administration Regulations”.
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