Reagan's Lab Proposal Limits Data Exchange

The Reagan Administration's proposal to prevent federal superconductivity laboratories from sharing their findings with foreign scientists may hinder research efforts, area scientists said yesterday.

If Congress votes in favor of the "Superconductivity Competitiveness Act of 1988," presented to the legislative bodies last week, cooperation between the United States and foreign nations in developing future openmarket uses for superconductors may break down, university professors said.

"Cooperative efforts between the U.S. and foreign nation are important," said Christopher J. Lobb, associate professor of applied physics, who has been studying superconductors since 1975.

Superconductors are metals that lose their electrical resistance when cooled to a particular temperature, so they can carry electrical currents without a significant energy loss. Scientists claim that developing practical commercial uses for these metals could lead to savings in energy and smaller, more powerful computers.

Gary Homes, a spokesman for the United States Trade Representative, said the Reagan proposal seeks to protect the "intellectual property rights" of American scientists working with superconductors by preventing them from releasing research results that may be of commercial value to foreigners.

But many university scientists said they believe the legislation--which in order to pass into law would require a restructuring of the Freedom of Information Act--would hinder research in the superconductor industry.

Simon Foner, a senior research scientist in MIT's Physics Department, said that American scientists learn much from foreign experts working in the United States.

"It is not appropriate for scientificinformation to be protected," thesuperconductivity expert said, adding that thereare many problems in the field the governmentshould address before restricting the exchange ofresearch.

While he acknowledged that he has not had anopportunity to see the proposal, Foner said thatmany protection measures "would be to thedisadvantage of everyone."

John Shattuck, vice president for government,community, and public affairs, was unavailable forcomment yesterday. In the past, he has saidsimilar efforts are a dangerous handicap toscientific research and a threat to constitutionalrights.

Professors see the latest Reagan initiative asan effort to win the race to developsuperconductor technology, although many academicsbelieve the industry should not involve "aninternational race between us and anyone," Lobbsaid.

Foner added that the measures are premature ascommercial uses of superconductors are a long wayin the future. "The excitement is still in thescience," the MIT professor said