National Academy of Sciences DRAFT

National Research Council

2101 Constitution Avenue, N, W,
Washington 25, D. C.

MINUTES
Joint Meeting of

Committee on Psychological. and Biological Research

Attendance:

and its
Sub-Committee on Exobiology

Stanford University
Palo Alto, California

February 29, 1960

Members: H.-Keffer Hartline, {hairman; Paul Berg;
Howard J, Curtis; Richard Davis; L. E. Farr; Norman
Horowitz; Joshua Lederberg; E. F. MacNichol; Daniel

Mazia; Otto H, Schmitt; C,. B. Van Niel; G. A, Derbyshire,
Secretary,

Members Absent: Thomas Francis; Edward L,. Tatum,

Invited Participants: Sam F, Seeley, NRC-DOD Committee
on Bio-Astronautics; H, Burr Steinbach, Division of
Biology and Agriculture, he. NAC

EY
different composition and structure. Some expansion of the Committee
has occurred, ise., the formation of the West Coast biology group

of Dr. Lederberg (and his appointment to the Board) and the addition
of Dr, Thomas Francis to the Committee,

The Chairman noted that the Committee had early expressed
a lack of interest in Project Mercury, had not been requested to
give advice on the program, and had assumed that advice was not
needed, He noted, however, that the 1970-80 program indicates the
incorporation of man as a part of the system, and that a thorough study
of man vs, instrument should now be undertaken.

The Committee agreed (after considerable discussion) that space
related biolocy falls into:

(1) Exobiology, i.e, extraterrestrial life, contamination
and related topics

(2) Radiation biology . :
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(3) Environmental biology, -igse. terrestrial- dependent rhythms
- the gravity-free state, Awh vatwwn; avd Feliu 7 %
salt NA , nnd [arrefanrry ANE weld

(4) ‘Man's role in spacd, _

The linen noted ar the fake category is covered by

Dr. Lederberg’s group; the second through Drs. Curtis and Farr Cin
addition, Dr. Curtis is chairman of the Radiation Biology Panel of the
Bio-Astronautics Committee); Environmental Biology has no representative
on the committee, Both Pittendrigh and Hastings were mentioned in this
connection. Dr, Seeley offered the services of the Bio-Astronautics

Panel on Biological Rhythms to the Committee noting that Pittendrigh

was a member of the Panel, a

Category 4, Man's Role in Space, is referred to Dr. Stevens for
for discussion and membership recommendation,

The Committee recommends this organization to the Space Science
Board, and will, on approval, make the following assignment of its
members,

(1) Hartline, Lederberg and Stevens members of all
sub-committees

(2) Excbiology Sub-Committee ll-A Lederberg
(3) Radiation Biology Sub-Committee 11-B Curtis/Farr

(4) Environmental Biology Sub-
Committee 11-¢

(5) Man's Role in Space 11-D Stevens
ous

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poston Tal ae t Sion
ny Halla ¥
_ fin addition, the conmetteet s ly tn palm indicated the need

for instrumentation for its needs, but does not wish to establish

its own specialized group; therefore, it is recommended that

Dr. Villard's Committee be activated to serve as the focal point

for instrumentation problems and information, It is suggested that
Drs. Schmitt and Mac Nichol would be willing to represent its instru-
mentation needs on the committee,

Bs Farman vif et oie ic ce

3. Other Relevant Topics
3.1 Information and Communication

There was discussion of the need to provide up-to-date
information on many aspects of science to the user in a usable form,
i.e, up-to-date information on radiation biology research results.

Dr. Curtis agreed to provide a working paper discussion of this topic,

3.2 Space and Money Available

It was reported (Davies) that space for biology. experiments
could be available on a Venus fly-by (5000 miles miss distance) being
planned at JPL for 1962, Great interest was indicated in the temperature
of Venus, in the depth of the atmosphere and some crude map of the
surface features, Seeley reported that he had been told $3,000,000
was available in NASA for supporting the biology program.

3.3 High Altitude Sampling

It was noted that the Fort Detrick laboratories (Dr. Phillips)
are building devices for biological sampling of the atmosphere at high
altitude, It was hoped to include these as ‘guests on subsequent
balloon flights,

4, 1960-65 Program

The biology program as approved by the Committee is contained
in Attachment A,

Sa * Back-Contamination

After thorough debate and discussion, the Committee approved
without dissent a resolution for transmittal to the Space Science
Board covering the establishment of an integdepartmental study
committee, The resolution is contained in Attachment B,

6. Scientific Aims of Space Research
The Committee, without dissent, adopted the Scientific Aims of

Space Research (Attachment C) and moved its transmittal to the Space
Science Board,
    

7s Next Meetings Plans

On approval of the Committee organization phase by the
Space Science Board, the sub-committees will be \rged to convene,
- This will provide time for development of biology programs for
inclusion in the longer~-range space science program to be formulated
this fall,

8, Adjournment
The Committee adjourned at 5:30 P.M,