it. Earlier controversies have taught tim lo move cuultously In matters as important as this, and he sill thinks there could be some weaknesses mm the new bomb data. This) stalemate existed tor several years unt the summer of 19300 when Loewe decided to rework the calculations. He started the project because the old Hiroshima data and Rossi's recent warnings uboul the potency of neutrons worrled people in the lab. Livermore scientists are involved in weapons research and are frequently exposed to neutron radiation, They wanted to know more about the dangers. Loewe's investigation, completed lust October, found both the Hiroshima data and Rassi’s principle to be unsubstantiated. Loewe urgues that there ts no evidence showing that neutrons were present in significant quantities in Hiroshimit. Loewe. Kerr. Auxier, and others in this controversy will present their arguments af au meeting sponsored by the Radiation Research Society on 31 May in Minneapolis. Auton calls at “the beginning of an important dialogue.” one which he probably will not be able to wtend because the new Administration has reduced the bureuucracy’s travel allowances. But Auton hopes the meeting will lead to a general and independent review of the issues. “IP the weapons folks”’ make ita strictly internal project. he says. ““l just have a coneern thal nubody will believe the results.” —E1iod MARSHALL a Ss ae ae revisionists. His judgment is widely respected. As the vrand old man in this field, he is in u position to influence funding decisions on newresearch, Auxier told Science there is no need for an independent review of the discrepancies between his datu und Kerr's. expressing an vpinion which may have made it difficult to get the present review started. Auton, the Defense Nuclear Agency offictal who makes the funding devisions, says that he has great respect for Auxier’s work, a respect based as much on Auxier’s standing in the communily as on his ability to “drag out corroboralive data.” Kerr has never published any of his work outside the laborutory, he says. because he prefers to be “timid” about Science Adviser Post Has Nominee in View governMent science committees. Hence he hus litde experience with federal seience poltcy und has made tew links to the scientific establishment. “He doesn't provide any channel betsycen the nation- Such concerns are abrupdy dismissed by Keyworth’s supporters. Although he “jacks obvious credentials. that doesn't mean he will not du a superb job.” says one. Agnew scoffs thut “he has ail the right credentials—uall he duesn’t have ts 20 yeurs membership in the club.” In a tclephone interview with Science. Agnew also said that he thinks much ofthe uncuse about Keyworth is simply due to the fact that he is an outsider—"" lf you get a bunch of chickens together and you put in a new rooster. they start clucking und running around.” he remarks. As for Keyworth’s shortage oflinks to the scientific estublishment, Agnew says that “defense will be the Chrust of this Administration, and sumebody whohas the respect of the people in the defense jabs is needed.*” He adds: “'For the past four years, you have had a geoloust in charge, and the defense community has sulfered. Huw did somebody trom outside the traditional ranks of candidates for science adviser get selected? Keyworth says he was approached about the job curly in April, and “il came as a surprise tome.” The post was lormaily offered in March to Arthur Bueche. head of research and development at General Elec- al (sctentific) community and the Witte tric, but he was forced lo tirn it dewa for House.” complains one veteran of ser ence und povernment aflurs, personal reasuas. Seseral other peuple were subsequenth -ocunded out about potential candidate late in April, it drew a mixture of surprise and uneuse from the screnuifie establishment. The surprise stems from the fact that Keyworth 1s virtually unknown outside his field. And the unease ts related to the fuct that his candidacy was being vigorously suppurted by Edward Teller, the so-called ““father of the hydrogen bumb."’ and Harold Agnew, president of General Atomics and former director of Los Alamos. Both are well Known for their huwkish defense VIEWS, Those who know Keyworth describe him as smart and personable. His research has been concerned mostly wath nuclear structure and low-energy nuclear reactions, und tor the past 3 years he has directed the physics division at Los Alu mos. One scientific colleague, Arthur Kerman of MIT. deseribes Keyworth as uA sf ‘oy Poy Yeu yy eer iad es Outsider causes unease Candidate George Acvworth “avery good sctentist whe is a dot broiader than his buekground would indicate.” His background dees not, however, include service on the usual round of bie Sa Ne pa ca var tap fae Pap VAS us re ae ee ee es The choice of science adviser to President Reagan has been narrowed down to a single candidate: George A. Way) Keyworth. a 4f-yeur-old physicist from the Los Alamos Scientific Luboratory. Although the job had not formally been offered to Keyworth as of this writing, Administration officials expect an announcement by the end of May. but caution that sumething could still go awry even al this late stage of the selectiOn process. When Keyworth’s nume came up us a ee 8 ee The job, turned down by several candidates, may now be offered to a man who is not a memberof the science establishment