Series AC/137 - Science Committee

The AC/137 chronological series contains the records of the Science Committee. The Science Committee’s terms of reference were defined at the Council meeting on 29 January 1958 (see C-R(58)6) and presented in document AC/137-D/1. The Committee provided advice on scientific and technical issues of interest to the Atlantic Alliance. It also made recommendations on the actions that needed to be taken to develop NATO’s scientific and technical resources as well as co-operation between the countries, and recommendations regarding the support to be provided to the other international organizations.The Committee set up ad hoc working groups to formulate proposals for future scientific work. They include the following groups, under separate reference: the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Defence Aspects of Psychology (AC/137(DP)), the Defence Research Directors (AC/137(DR)), the Advisory Panel on NATO Science Research Grants (AC/137(RG)), the Working Group on Scholarships (AC/137(S)), the Advisory Group on Space Research (AC/137(SR)), the Study Group on the Von Karman Institute (AC/137(VKI)) and the Ad Hoc Working Party on the Western Science Foundation (AC/137(WF).The experts participating in those groups were appointed by the Science Committee. The work of the various groups was funded by national or international budgets in accordance with the research grant programme, or by special funds set up by NATO for that purpose. The first meeting took place on 26–28 March 1958, with the countries represented by prominent scientists. Thereafter the Science Committee met three times a year.