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Surveys the question of federal support for academic science and focuses on the current review being conducted by the White House Office of Management and Budget which will set the stage for reassessment of the current reimbursement system. No definition of what each partner's fair share should be; Scandal over improper overhead charges; Real prospect for lower rates of reimbursement; Refocusing university efforts; Convergence of disturbing trends; Overhead rates.

Presents statistics on earmarked awards from Congress to specific colleges a nd universities in Fiscal 1992, at least $684 million, or a total of nearly 39 percent more than last year. Earmarked awards are those not made on the basis of competitive reviews of their merits. Earmarks seen as inevitable in the absence of federal technology policy; Criticism from President Bush; Five top states; Increasing participation of small institutions; Critics and supporters.

Details a misconduct case which questions if Stanford University tried to whitewash the results of an internal investigation into charges of fraud against Stanford medical researcher Zoltan J. Lucas. Demonstration of why the government should not rely too much on universities to investigate charges of misconduct; Congressional hearing; Series of letters; Dr. Eugene Dong, lawyer, whistleblower, dealing in the legal responsibilities of scientists.

Details the investigation by the Naval Investigative Service into Stanford University's overhead charges billed to the federal government on their federal research contracts. `Shortcomings' in the accounting system at Stanford; Congressional investigation into Harvard Medical School's overhead rate; Detailed records backing claims; Increase in overhead costs.

Considers the new balance of power in the sciences, where the biological revolution is producing an avalanche of stunning scientific and technological progress, and may have important implications for how the federal government supports scientificresearch. Assertion of Michael Schrage in the `Los Angeles Times' that the age of the physicists is over; Comments by physicists; Cutback on total expenditures in physics; Healthy sharing of influence.

Presents highlights of the president's proposal for science and technology and gives comments and criticisms from researchers and lobbyists. Choosing between competing priorities; The National Institutes of Health budget; Comments from Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Louis W. Sullivan and Energy Secretary James D. Watkins; High-performance computing; Astronomy and life sciences; Agriculture; Global change.

Outlines the recent reorganization of the National Science Foundation which splits the major office for the social, behavioral and biological sciences into a Directorate for Biological Sciences and a Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic sciences. Comments from Walter E. Massey, agency director; Coordinating research between behavioral and social scientists; Other effects of the reorganization.

Details a new cost-management plan of the National Institutes of Health under which overhead rates could become the determining factor in some decisions on which `marginal' proposals to support. Outline of the new policy, to take effect in fiscal 1992; Other plans of NIH director Bernadine Healy; Quality of the research environment; Negotiated overhead rates; Comments from the National Science Foundation.

Details changes announced last week by Stanford University in its billing procedures for overhead charges connected to federal research monies which include the creation of a written code of ethics and conduct and an overhaul of its accounting system. Special new procedures to identify expenses that should not be billed in any part to the government. Stanford's overhead rate; Recommendations from Arthur Andersen & Company.

Details a marathon House hearing, chaired by Rep. John D. Dingell (Dem.-Mich.), into alleged and acknowledged improprieties in the way Stanford University had billed the government for the overhead costs of research during the last 10 years. Bloated overhead, excess, arrogance, and lax governmental oversight; Serious deficiencies in Stanford's cost allocation and charging practices; Outright errors in billing, some technically legal but inappropriate.

Announces that Stanford University will forgo about $500,000 in controversial overhead charges that had been billed to federal research agencies. Continuing investigations by General Accounting Office and the Office of the Chief of Naval Research; Press reports; Other universities.

Details a recent meeting sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Association which asked for public comment on a new approach the agencies are considering to regulate conflicts of interest in federally-financed clinical trials. Giving institutions more responsibility for preventing inappropriate conflicts of interest; Whistle blowers; Clinical trials.

Lists most of the projects involving universities that Congress had directed federal agencies to support this year. The agencies did not request money for the projects listed here and did not sponsor merit-based competitions to determine which institutions should get the awards in Fiscal 1992. Items identified by officials in the agencies and universities involved or by Congressional aides; Some projects difficult to detect; List may not be complete.

Gives congressional criticism of a National Science Foundation report which predicted a coming shortage of scientists and which, according to Rep. Howard Wolpe (D-Mich.), contained methodological flaws. The report, which was never endorsed by the foundation, was based on the assumption that the number of undergraduate degrees awarded in the natural sciences and engineering would go down as the number of college-age students declined.

Highlights plans of the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology, led by David Packard (chairman of the board of Hewlett-Packard Company), to study the interface between the federal government and the university research community. The focus of the study; Issues on academic science and technology.

Outlines a recommendation from the National Academies of Science and Engineering and the Institute of Medicine which said the federal government's role in civilian technology should be expanded to emphasize more partnerships with businesses in advanced research and development. Spending on `pre-commercial' research and development; Establishing a private, quasi-governmental organization; Contact point for copies of the report.

Reveals that President Bush has proposed that at least three dozen university projects, involving millions of dollars in congressional earmarks, be eliminated from the Fiscal 1992 federal budget. Individual proposals have been sent to Congress for each of the projects that were not subject to agency competitions or merit reviews. Rescinded money that has been set aside; Possible identification of further projects for individual future rescissions; Comments.

Considers a report from a panel appointed by the Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy, which found the federal government is having trouble attracting the most-qualified people to fill key science and technology jobs, partly because of limitations on the kind of work federal officials can do after they leave government service. Examination of 78 jobs filled by presidential appointment; Conflict-of-interest laws.

Reveals the National Science Foundation has completed its operating plan for Fiscal 1992, which will provide about $1.34 billion for individual researchers, an increase of about 9.5 percent. Increases for research offices; Foundation director Walter E. Massey's letter to Congress.

Reveals Congress has added $105 million from the budget of the Defense Dept. to support the Antarctic program of the National Science Foundation in Fiscal 1992. Most of the extra money will cover costs the Navy incurs providing flights and otherservices to the NSF's Antarctic program. Budget office approval of NSF's operating plan for Fiscal 1992.

Speculates on the upcoming fiscal 1993 budget, which is expected to include an increase of 18 percent for the National Science Foundation, including an 18 percent rise in the amount available for research and major new initiatives in manufacturing and environmental research. Tenure of new director Walter E. Massey; Concentration on increasing the average size and length of grants to individual researchers; Concern over university response to public challenges of academic integrity.

Speculates on the President's 1993 budget proposal, which is expected to include increased spending for that part of the Pentagon budget that supports basic and applied research and the earliest stage of development. Department of Defense instructions for zero to two percent real growth in science and technology programs; Intense competition for funding.

States a Defense Dept. audit is expected to contend Stanford University overcharged the government by $200 million or more in the 1980s for the overhead costs of research. An Office of Naval Research spokesman commented his office would use the agency's audits in negotiating how much money Stanford owes for past years. Unclear whether the audit would continue; Publicity on the Stanford controversy; Earlier reports from the Office of the Chief of Naval Research.

Reports that under the new military spending law the Pentagon will provide $30 million less for basic and applied research at universities than would have been the case if the overhead system had not been changed. The savings will be the result of `revised auditing standards' for Defense Department awards to universities.

Reports that plans of the National Science Foundation to pay Massachusetts Institute of Technology an award of up to $23 million to develop a powerful magnet, has prompted new questions about the decision to award $60 million to Florida State University. Critics suggest the new grant to MIT indicates the NSF should never have awarded Florida State the national laboratory for magnetic research grant. Review panels recommendation; Speeding up the project.

Reports that the Office of Naval Research has appointed a committee to determine who should be held accountable for the agency's failure to follow standard government procedures in negotiating overhead rates for federally supported research at Stanford University. Growing political controversy; Recommendations that ONR terminate all special agreements with Stanford for setting overhead rates; Cooperation in federal investigations.

Comments on a report from the Inspector General of the Office of the Chief of Naval Research which found `there appears to be some validity' to fears that the government overpaid Stanford University for overhead costs over ten years. `No apparentpartiality by ONR in its treatment of Stanford as compared to other universities.' Tightening procedures.

Reports that while the budget for the National Institutes of Health would rise by almost 10 percent, the budget for the National Science Foundation lost some money. Gives details on federal support.