QUESTIONS FROM CONGRESSMAN MORAN

68

Programrequirementsinclude:

InformationTechnologysystems modernization.

Staffsupportforfacilities improvements.

SecuritySystemsmodernization andrelated improvements, National

Museum

^{oftheAmerican}Indian start-up costs

National Airand Space

Museum

Udvar-HazyCenterstart-upcosts

Thereduction associated withthisrescissionhas notbeendesignatedforspecific requirements, but wouldpartiallyoffsettheaboveincreasein requirements.

PrivateFundraising

Question62:

What

isyourattitudetowardsprivate fundraising?

What

is the status of efforts to privately financethe constructionofthe National

Museum

of theAmerican Indianand the AirandSpace

Museum

Extension at Dulles?

Answer:

We

takefundraising veryseriously attheSmithsonian. Itis essential to keep theSmithsonianmodern, livelyand of interest tothepublic.

We

staffeach Smithsonian

museum

andresearch institutewith ateamofprofessional

development officers.Theyare experts intheirorganization's collectionsand research, andthey workveryclosely with donors. Fundraising isbeneficial to the

museums,

tovisitors tothe

museums,

andtothe donors.

We

shouldembracethe philanthropists

who

give so generouslytoenrichthelivesofallAmericans.

Recently, privateand federal fundingfortheNational

Museum

ofthe American Indian reached

$174

million, ofwhich $71 millionhas been raisedfromprivate sources.TheInstitution is requesting

$10

millionin itsFY

2003

budget and needs toraise $35 million to finishthe Mall

Museum.

Thetotalestimated costofthe National Airand Space

Museum

Udvar-HazyCenterat Dulles is$311 million, with

$118

million stillleftto beraised fromprivatesources.

Question 63:

How

do you balanceconcernsthathave

now

beenraised thattoo

many

stringshave been attachedto largeprivatedonations, strings that could compromisethe integrity of a

museum's

independentand scholarlypresentation of itsartifactsanddisplays?

Answer: TheSmithsonian Institution continuesitscentury-and-a-halflong tradition ofallowing donorstorestricttheir gifts fora specific purpose. Gifts typicallyare restricted or unrestricted, dependingonthewishes ofthe donors. Regardlessof the purpose, the Smithsoniandoesnotcedecontrol overeither thecontentor designofitsexhibitions or programs. The mostpublicizedrecent gift, fromthe CatherineReynolds Foundation, was, infact, withdrawn becausethe Smithsonian Institutionwouldnot cedecontrol ofthecontent as thedonor wished.

Patent OfficeBuilding

Question 64:

What

isthe status ofyourefforts to restorethe OldPatentOffice Building? Has theissue of dividingspacebetweentheNational Portrait Gallery and the

Museum

ofAmerican Artbeenresolved?

Answer: Allcollections have been

removed

fromthe buildingandthe contractfor demolition and removalofhazardousmaterial is nearly

60%

complete. The constructiondesign documentsforthe nextphasereached the

70%

milestonein

February2002. The documents have beenreviewed and

comments

incorporated forthe

95%

submission,which isscheduledforcompletion inApril 2002. The Institution planstobeginadvertisingthenext contract phasethis

summer

basedon receipt ofthe $25millionrequested^for

FY

2003. Theissue ofthedivision of spacebetween the

two museums

hasbeen resolved.

Research

Question 65: TheSmithsonian is perhaps best

known

forits

museums

on theMall anditsuniquecollections. Couldyou highlight

some

oftheinstitution'sother activities and itsresearchactivities inparticular?

Answer:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's research activities areguidedby

questions addressing thestructureandfate ofthe universe,

when

and

how

thefirst galaxies and starsformed,

how

black holesform andevolve and

what

physical processes occurintheir vicinity,

how

stellarandplanetary systems form and evolve, and

what

can

we

learnabouttheSunthatwill helpus understand other starsand the Sun'seffecton Earth. Toolsused to

make

mostprogress infinding answers tothe abovequestionsincludethe

6.5m

MultipleMirrorTelescope (MMT), Chandra Observatory, andtheSubmillimeter Array (SMA).

NationalZoological Parkconductsresearch throughitsthreedepartmentsofAnimal Programs, Reproductive Sciences,and ConservationBiology.Thecognitive researchquestions focusonidentifying theorigins ofcomplexmental abilities,and describingtherange ofcognitiveskillsthat existin

non-human

species. Pathology questions study the disease process anditsprogressinzoocollections,

encompassing diagnostic andresearch aspects. Reproduction, theessenceof speciessurvival, isstudied through theinterdisciplinaryfieldsofendocrinology, behavior, embryology, cryobiology,

gamete

biologyand assisted breeding.

Likewise, conservationbiology research incorporatesinterdisciplinary approachesto address the various challengestomaintaining biological diversity, including behavior,ecology, populationbiology, nutrition,migratorybehavior, nutrition,and biodiversity trainingandoutreach.

70

Smithsonian Environmental ResearchCenterinvestigates a broad rangeofissues in invasion biology: (1) patternsof non-indigenous speciestransfer, invasion,and impact;(2) specificandgeneral

mechanisms

that underliethesepatterns; and, (3) efficacy of

management

strategies tolimitthe spreadand impactofnon-indigenous species.

SERC

blue crab researchrelates preysurvivorship and

community

structure to habitat quality ofmajorshoreline types. Temporalvariation in survivorship of juvenilecrabs inthe nearshore refuge appears toregulate recruitmentintothe bluecrabfishery. SERC'sballast waterdeliveryand

management

programforvessels also includesresearch atan increasing

number

of sitesoutsideof theChesapeake Bay region (Alaska, California, Florida)tomeasure variation

among

sites andtestfor generalitiesⁱⁿinvasion processes. International collaborativeresearch sitesareinAustralia, Israel, Italy, Netherlands,and

New

Zealand.

SmithsonianTropicalResearch Instituteinthe Republic of

Panama

conducts advancedtropical studiesonthe ecology, evolutionandbehaviorof tropical plants and animals.SIR! research focuses on describing the past, understanding the presentand ultimatelydeveloping predictivemodelsof

how

^{life in}the tropics respondsto andinfluences lifeonthe planet. Theseresearchactivitiesintegrally depend onthe useofcanopy cranes, scubadiving methods, and molecular techniquesto

name

afew.

Question 66: Could youexplainthe decision-makingprocess usedto allocate scientificresearch funds atthe Smithsonian?

Answer: AllFederal staff scientists receiveannual performancereviews, and are also evaluated via a peer review process ona regular basis. The best-knownform ofexpertreviewis peer review, developedfromthe premisethat ascientist'speers have theessential knowledge andperspectivetojudge thequality ofresearch and are the bestqualified peopletodo so. Requests forresources beyondbasic salary supportare reviewed bydepartmentchairsand/or associatedirectorsat larger organizations, andby the deputydirectorand/ordirectorat smallerunits. Research supportfor staffis generally allocatedbased on the following criteria:overall performanceand productivity ofthescientist basedon annual andpeer reviews;

funding appropriated forspecific projects orprogramsfor whichascientist isthe chief investigator; recentpublication record; knowledge ofthe scientist's research plansandabilitytocarry

them

outeffectivelywith the requested resources;

success ofthescientist inobtainingcompetitive grantsand contractsorother external support;and theimportance oftheresearch activity tothe vision and missionofthe organizationand the Institution.

Question 67: Arethere research areasinwhich the Smithsonianhas established

itselfas a leaderand issought outforexpertise by thefederalgovernment orthe scientificcommunity?

Answer:

National

Museum

of NaturalHistory

DuringFY 2001,tlie National

Museum

of Natural History providedscientific expertise to federal, stateand local agencies inthe areasof forensicsand forensic- related training; identifications of biologicalspecinnens, especially invasive species and feathers;assessments ofgeological stability;volcaniceventsand hazards;

biologicalsurveys of particularanimalssuch asamphibians and insects; analysesof meteoritesandother solarsystem and planetarymaterials;

management

of Federally-collected biological collections, especiallyvertebratesandinvertebrates;

disease dynamics;coral reef studies;diamonds' chemical composition;and science education. This expertise

was

providedintheform ofunreimbursed services, interagencytransfersand extramural grantsandcontracts. Total interagency transfers andextramural grants and contractsfor

FY2001 was

$3.6millionfrom 13 government agencies. Grantsweresecuredfromthe BoardofCounty Commissioners,St Lucie County, FL;the DepartmentofAgriculture;the

Departmentof

Commerce;

theDepartmentofDefense; the Departmentof Energy;

theDepartmentof theInterior;the Environmental ProtectionAgency;theNational Aeronauticaland SpaceAdministration; the NationalInstitutes of Health; the NationalScience Foundation; the State ofFlorida; andthe United Nations Food and AgricultureOrganization. In addition, servicesfornofeewereprovided tothe

Armed

Forces InstituteofPathology; the

DC

MetropolitanPolice;theDepartment of

Commerce;

theDepartment ofDefense; the DepartmentofEnergy; the DepartmentoftheInterior;the FederalAviation Administration;the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation;the National Centerfor Exploitedand Missing Children;theWhite House;the

US

Geological Survey;andthe United StatesSenate. Ofparticularnote werethe

human

identificationservicesprovided as a result ofthe eventsof September11,

2001

andthebiological specimenidentificationfromensuing governmentactivities.

NationalZoological Park

Federal, state, and local agenciesseek the expertiseof

NZP

scientistson awide variety of issues involvingthebiologyandrecovery ofendangered andthreatened

mammals,

birds andreptiles.Theseagenciesinclude,

among

others,the Fishand WildlifeService,the Forest Service, the Bureau ofLandManagement, Marine

Mammal

Commission, VirginiaDepartmentofConservation,Virginia Departmentof

Game

and Inland Fisheries, andFlorida FreshwaterFishand

Game

Commission.

Specific speciesincludethe

Guam

rail, deserttortoise,sea turtles, black-footed ferret, Floridapanther,and a variety ofmigratory birds.The NationalZoo's Conservationand ResearchCenteractivelyparticipatesindesert tortoise conservationinthe EasternMojaveDesert, and produces black-footedferretsfor reintroductionin theAmerican West.

NZP

isalsoengaged intheinternational implementationofthe EndangeredSpecies Act, including projectson tigers,giant pandas, Asian elephants, andmigratory songbirds.

NZP

scientistsconsulton conservation and

management

issues related tomarine

mammals,

andforestand waterresources. Inaddition tocompleting specific researchprojects,

NZP

scientists alsoprovidetheirexpertise totheseagencies by servingasconsultants and

members

ofendangered speciesrecoveryand resource

management

teams. The Zooreceived $2.4million ingovernmentgrantsand contracts forresearchactivities inFY 2001.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Inresponsetoannouncementsof opportunity, primarilyfrom

NASA, SAO

scientists submit proposalsto buildinstrumentsforspace experimentsandto conductrelated research. These proposalsare ranked against proposals submitted byscientists throughout the nationand awardedby the agency onthe basis ofperceived scientificmerit. Roughlythree-quarters of

SAO's

budgetis inthe formof governmentcontractsand grants. FY2001 awardstotaled $85 million.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

SERC'sexpertiseis broadlysoughtbyalllevels ofgovernmentforitsresearchin

suchfieldsas invasivespecies,wetlands ecology, globalchange, population and community ecologyand landscape ecology. InFY 2001,

SERC

administered

48

external grants andcontractstotaling

more

than $21 million ofmulti-yearsupport ($3.1 million

was

awardedin FY 2001). Typically,

SERC

isfunded by local and stateagenciesin Maryland, NSF,

USDA,

EPA,

Commerce, DOD,

Interiorandother naturalresource agenciesofthe FederalGovernment inpeer-reviewed

competitions.

Smithsonian CenterforMaterialResearch andEducation

SCMRE

expertiseis regularlysoughtbyother governmentagenciesⁱⁿmatters pertaining to preservationand conservationof cultural properties under thecare of those agencies, as well asincases whereour expertiseinspecific analytical techniques issought. Recent (FY 2001 and current year)consultationshave includedthe Architectofthe Capitol, EPA, FBI,State Department, the Federal HighwayAdministration,the TexasHistorical Commission, andCalifornia DepartmentofParksand Recreation.

SmithsonianTropicalResearchInstitute

Scientistsat STRIcollaborateina

number

of initiativesfunded bythe National Science Foundation, theInternational CooperativeBiodiversityGroups (a consortium consisting of the National Institutes of Health, NationalScience Foundation, andtheDepartmentofAgriculture),

NASA,

andthe

Panama

Canal Authority,

among

others, forwhich STRI has$11.9million inactivegrants and contracts ($1.2millionawarded in FY 2001). Our work withthe ICBGinvolves screeningforpotential

new

medicinal

compounds

fromtropical forest plants.

A

grantfrom

NASA

isenabling usto assess theimpactsofprevailingland uses on rainforestecology andcarbon storage inthe

Amazon

basin;understanding such

effectsisimportant because

Amazonian

forestconversionisamajor sourceof carbon emissions worldwide. Locallyin Panama,

we

collaborateina watershed

management

studyforthe

Panama

CanalAuthorrty.

Question 68: Isthere a federal or national interestinthisresearch?

Answer: Yes.

As

detailed inQuestion

67

above, thereisgreat interestinthetype ofresearchthat is beingconducted by theseunits.

Question 69:

What

are

some

ofthe uniquefeatures ofSmithsonianscienceas comparedtootherfederallyfundedscienceprograms?

Answer: The

NAPA

and

NAS

studies will be focusing onthis particularquestion.

National

Museum

ofNaturalHistory

The uniquenessof

NMNH

scienceisitscollections, scientificexpertiseand specialized laboratories.

The NMNH

has thelargestand mostdiverse collection of plants, animals,fossils, mineralsandother

human

artifactsandassociateddatain

the world,numberingover

124

million. Theassociateddataisof incalculablevalue because a collection ofthissort cannever beputtogetheragain, duetothe lossof habitatsand cultures. Theinformation derivedfrom thecollections assistsin

informing currentandcritical biodiversity, climatechange and ecological studies, to

name

afew.

NationalZoological Park

The NationalZoo isunique foritslocationwithinthe Nation'sCapitolandbeautiful urban setting. The size ofthelivingcollectionis

3000

specimens ofwhich

45

speciesgroupsare onthe United States endangered specieslist, andthe

relationship thattheZoohas withChina hasresulted inan increaseincollaborative scienceprograms involvingtheZoo's animalcarestaff, researchstaff, andtheir Chinese counterparts. TheZoohas gained aninternationalreputation forimproving themanagement,husbandry, andexhibition ofwildlifethroughscientific

investigation.

NZP

specializesinusing multi-disciplinaryapproachestoaddressa vanetyofconservation issues,andeducatesthe public abouttheseissuesthrough

itsexhibits.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Incombination with the Harvard College Observatory,

SAO

formsthe largestand most comprehensivecenterforastrophysicsinthe world. Itsscientistscoverthe entire spectrumof radiationfromtheuniverseina

way

that noother institutionis able to do.

SAO

hasexcelled incarrying outlarge projects of national and international impactthat are notfeasible to undertakebyvirtually allother academic institutions.

A

primecurrent exampleistheenormouslysuccessful,

$2billion classChandraX-rayObservatorywhich

was

conceived, largely

developed,and

now

opefated by

SAO

scientists. This majorspace mission isthe onlyonenot operated by

NASA.

Becauseofthe extraordinarilywide rangeof disciplinesrepresentedat

SAO,

individualandgroup research projects are greatly enhancedbytheproximityof

SAO

expertsin allrelevant fields. At present

SAO

alsohas unique facilitiesforastronomical observationsinArizona, Massachusetts, Hawaii, andthe SouthPole. In addition,

SAO

is unique

among

allofthe world's astronomical research organizationsinhavingthe largest andmosteffectivegroups devotedto pre-college scienceeducation

—

curriculumdevelopment, teacher training, and the productionofaward-winning, nationallyfamousvideos.

SAO

could apply

some

ofitsinnovative developmentsforX-rayastronomyto medical instrumentation.

A

specific application,toangiography, couldsubstantially improve theimagesobtained while simultaneously decreasingthe radiation exposureof patients tenfold.

SmithsonianTropicalResearchInstitute

Thefacilities in

Panama

enable us toconduct long-term researchandmonitoringof the tropics, andto understandthe results of recentstudieswithinthecontextof STRI's longer-term environmental records spanningalmost

90

years;provide access ^tohigh-biodiversityhabitatswhicharescarceunderthe

US

^flagandare well protectedfrom disturbance (e.g.tropical rainforestsand coralreefs). Barro ColoradoIsland, the oldestand beststudied tropical forestreserve, ^isunder Smithsonian custodianship throughinternational agreement with the Republicof Panama. Smithsonian providesstate-of-the-art facilitiesincluding molecular laboratories, ultra-coldgenetic-storagefacilities, and marine researchfacilities on boththe Atlantic and Pacificoceans from whichstate-of-the-artresearch inthe tropics isconducted. STRI alsopioneers

new

technologiesforenvironmental researchincludingthe canopycraneand systemsforautomatedtelemetry. The CenterforTropical ForestScience providesanunmatched, circumtropicaldatabase of forestcomposition andchangemonitoringmorethan

6000

treespecies in 13 tropical countries of Asia, Africaandthe Americas.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

UtilizingitscoresiteontheChesapeakeBay, SERC's scienceis based onlong-term monitoring ofecological characteristics atthe land/water margin onapermanently

owned

and protected site. Its integrativeand multi-disciplinary approachto environmental issues atvarious scalesfrom localthroughglobal

make

^itaunique assetto U.S.and internationalscience. Tocitejust

two

examples,

SERC

isthe Nation's leadingcenterforinvasivespecies researchinthemarineenvironment and alsohas the world'slargestconcentrationof researchersonmangroves, acritical wetlandshabitat.

Question 70:

How

canthe National Collections atthe Nationalf^useumofNatural Historybeimprovedforthe benefit ofU.S. science?

Answer:

The

mostimportantimprovementsthatcouldenhancethecollections at theNational

Museum

ofNatural History are:tocontinue renovationoftheNatural History building inorder toprotectthe uniquecollectionsbymakingthe building environmentally saferand

more

up-to-dateandto providebetter on-site examinationfacilitiesforresearchers

who come

fromailover the worldto study thevastcollections; to digitizethe collectionsand

make them

availableoverthe internet to reach

more

researchersallover the world; andtohaveasafeand yet accessible environmentforthose collections storedin alcohol.

Question 71^:

What

evidencedo you havetoprove thequality ofthescience conductedatthe Smithsonian?

Answer: Thequality ofthescienceconductedattheSmithsonian isreflectedin the results of externalprogramreviewsby apanel ofexperts intheparticularfields ofstudyunder review, conducted ona periodic basis atthedirection ofthe Under SecretaryforScience, or withina research unit, bytheDirector. Theseare typically done onan approximatelyfive-year cycle.

A

^VisitingCommittee consultsand reviews the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)activitiesevery

two

years. Reviews have beenconducted on^all theresearchinstitutes, orinthecase ofthe National

Museum

ofNatural History,the threeoverarchingfields ofstudy carried outby the

Museum,

overthepastdecade. Individual scientists are reviewedregularly as part ofan annual appraisalsystem and a periodic peer- reviewed professionalaccomplishmentsevaluation,ontheircontributions totheir fieldofstudy, publications, participationin professional organizations,and success atobtainingcompetitive grantsandcontracts,

among

otherelements. TheOffice ofPersonnel Management's ResearchGradeEvaluation Guide, andthe

museum

curatorand specific classificationstandards providea generalframeworkfor peer reviewsof Federal scientists.

Numerous

Smithsonian scientists have received national and internationalrecognition for theirachievements, andare leadersin their respectivefields of specialty asevidenced bytheirstatusandrolesas officers in professionalscientificsocieties. Staff aresoughtregularlyas consultantsto universities, non-governmentorganizations. Federalagencies, foreigngovernments and internationalorganizations.

Many

staffscientistsholdadjunctappointmentsat universities.

Ten

members

of

SAO's

Federalstaffhavebeenelected totheNational

Academy

of Sciences; oneis aNobel Laureate;and oneisa MacArthur Fellow, andtheyhave

11 American

Academy

of ArtsandSciencesmembers. The SmithsonianTropical ResearchInstitutecurrentlyhas

two

staff

who

are

members

oftheNational

Academy

of Sciences andthree

who

arefellows oftheAmerican

Academy

ofArts andSciences.

Question 72:

What

do yousee asthe differencebetweentheworkofthe Smithsonian'sScienceCommission, which

was

appointed by the Regents, andthe