Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Federal Laboratory Review Panel: report of the White House Science Council

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5929941· OSTI ID:5929941

The Federal Laboratory Review Panel was established by the White House Science Council. Dr. George A. Keyworth asked the Panel to review the Federal laboratories and to recommend actions to improve their use and performance. The Panel completed an extensive survey of both government-operated and contractor-operated laboratories - the only such comprehensive review in over 20 years. The Panel noted some serious deficiencies in the Federal laboratories and made recommendations to bring these laboratories to the necessary level of excellence and productivity to justify a continuing high level of investment in them. The recommendations address the following vital factors: (1) clear missions that allow firm goals to be set against which the performance of the laboratories can be measured; (2) appropriate resources, most importantly adequate scientific talent, for carrying out the missions; (3) a management of the laboratories that fosters an environment conducive to first-class research; and (4) strong interaction with universities, industry, and users of research results, to maximize the complementary use of talent and resources; to assure application of results to broader, practical uses; and to minimize undue overlap and unfair competition. The Panel believes that the recommendations, if implemented, will improve the quality of work done by the Federal laboratories.

Research Organization:
Executive Office of the President, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Science and Technology Policy
OSTI ID:
5929941
Report Number(s):
NP-3902794; ON: DE83902794
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English