Discusses the utility of copyright as a public policy for knowledge management in a society that possesses a high level of information technology. Proposes steps in solving problems concerning encouraging, researching, writing and disseminating new ideas in society. (BR)

Reports on a Supreme Court ruling giving the federal government jurisdiction over substantial areas of the outer continental shelf (OCS) which opens the door for a federal program of OCS leasing. (GS)

Outlines the energy strategy of the Democrats and details the energy proposals of the Ford Administration. The Administration plan involves a complex system of taxes and tariffs and a proposed Synthetic Fuels Commercialization Program. (GS)

Reports that as a result of our increasing knowledge of the molecular biology of nitrogen fixation it might eventually be possible to increase the biological production of nitrogenous fertilizer from atmospheric nitrogen. (GS)

Presents the contention that in light of a historical perspective to technology and growth an optimistic view of the possibility for continuous technological development is not foolish. (GS)

Processing of materials could become energy-limited rather than resource-limited. Methods to extract metals, industrial minerals, and energy materials and convert them to useful states requires more than one-fifth of the United States energy budget. Energy accounting by industries must include a total systems analysis of costs to insure net energy…

Our energy growth is slowing down and will level off in the 1990s. Our oil and gas production passed a peak in the early 1970s. Coal is the only fossil fuel capable of increased production. Finding rates for petroleum, natural gas, and uranium are less than half what they were twenty years ago. (Author/BB)

Summarizes alternative technological possibilities for ensuring a supply of energy for the United States, including nuclear technology, solar energy, shale oil and coal gassification, low pollutant techniques for burning coal, and a fuel cell suitable for commercial use. Reports the extent of existing research and development efforts. (AL)

Advances in factory computerization (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) are reviewed, including discussions of robotics, human factors engineering, and the sociological impact of automation. (JN)

Considers the nature of new services that can be offered as the cost of communications and computing declines, the importance of these new services to the economy, and the arguments for regulatory control as proposed by potential competing suppliers. (MLH)

Presents the position that the federal government will have to take a direct hand in holding down demand for energy while promoting new sources of supply. Increased consumption and the dim short-term prospects for major alternatives to oil are cited as major problems. (GS)

National forests are a valuable national asset in terms of wood, recreation, wilderness, wildlife, and water. Management is inefficient and uneconomic creating wasteful capital investment and below-potential economic output. Better national leadership, analysis of forests as a business enterprise, and recruitment of outside persons into Forest…

Government support of coal liquefaction Research and Development has created the conditions that make possible the development of needed technology. With the proper government incentives, pioneer plants will lead to lower costs, and this, plus rising prices, will create the conditions necessary to develop a multi-plant industry. (Author/MA)

Discusses the possible conflict of interest resulting from the Environmental Protection Agency's participation with the automobile and oil industries in the Coordinating Research Council - Air Pollution Research Advisory Committee, an organization which has sponsored much of the research important to federal regulation of clean air. (JR)