2101 CONSTITUTION AVENUE CABLE ADDRESS: NARECO
WASHINGTON 25, D. Cc. WASHINGTON, D. ¢C.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SPACE SCIENCE BOARD

28 February 1962

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
School of Medicine
Stanford University
Balo Alto, California

Dear Joshua:

The enclosed memo to Committee 15 brings you up to date on my
activities, in part. You will note that September 5 is a date for
a get-together of all the Board's Biologists to polish (and/or
complete) a general position paper on the Biosciences for submission
to NASA by September 15. These dates are the outcome of many dis-
cussions with NASA, SSB and especially Lambertsen. First, I hope
you can make it here for that date, Please let me know. Second, what
would you prefer to do in the way of a committee report (from Committee
14, Exobiology) by August 15? You will see that this is the date by
which time Committees 15 and 16 will have submitted Panel Reports.

Incidentally, in asking all these questions -- and taking the
initiative on dates, etc. -- I am acting (as urged by Lloyd) both as
a member of the SSB Executive Committee and for. the ad hoc Commdinating
Committee for Biosciences. The need for a General Biological Position
Paper is a compelling ane -- almost a demand from NASA. Could your
Westex group pull together a paper on the state of exobiology problem;
and especially give emphasis to the kinds of things that need to be
done, etc. Anyhow you know best what is needed -- my only plea is for
a paper from Committee 14 by August 15.

The overall Position Paper due September 15 in a way replaces the
paper I had in mind when I saw you in Stanford. In the meantime Newell
wants whatever informal advice on the bio-program we can give him.
Lambertsen, Hartline and I had a long session with him in January and
then we (Chris, Keffer and I) held a meeting of the ad hoc Biological
Coordinating Committee in an attempt to draft a brief and tentative
paper. This failed because of Lambertsen's objections to everything
Hartline and I had to say. In consequence the formal paper is post-
poned, etc. In the meantime I plan to write Newell some of my
Dr. Joshua Lederberg 28 February 1962
Page 2

impressions and send copies to you and the other Board members who
can promptly send Newell objections and qualifications if you have
any. He is anxious for something new, and in Lambertsen's present
mood there is no hope of the unanimity necessary for a formal Board
Paper. Needless to say in my letter to Newell, as you will see, I

shall take full recognition of your own opinion against an Exobiology
Institute.

Regards to Esther.

Cordially,

Afb

Colin S. Pittendrigh

Enclosure