The Reagan policy of information restrictions "has appeared somewhat threatening" to scientific research, says Harvard Director of Governmental Relations Parker L. Coddington. "Once you start creating fences, you don't help yourself in the [technological] race," Coddington says.

"If we kept basic research under wraps, [foreign scientists] would make these discoveries soon enough in Japan to beat us to market, soon enough in the Soviet Union to beat us to space," he says.

Protecting National Security

But not every one agrees that sharing scientific discoveries with foreign researchers is in America's best interest.

To the Reagan Administration, the free flow of information can seriously jeopardize the United States' national security. For the past seven years, the Administration has adhered to a "mosaic" view of national security information, a theory that says that even bits and pieces of seemingly harmless data can be pieced together by our adversaries in such a manner that it would jeopardize our national security.

"In the 1980s `national security' is in itself an all-encompassing term too often construed as having to do only with foreign policy and defense matters. In reality, it must include virtually every facet of international activity, including foreign affairs, defense, intelligence, research, and development policy, outer space, [and] international economic and trade policy," former National Security Advisor Richard V. Allen wrote in a 1983 report.

In defending the mosaic theory, Administration officials often cite a 1979 article describing how to build a hydrogen bomb, which drew only on unclassified information scattered through a number of scientific journals.

"The presumption in previous administrations was that this information should not be classified unless it would cause discernible harm," Blanton says. "The presumption in the Reagan Administration has been that this stuff shouldn't be released."

"The burden of proof was with the classifier [in the Carter Administration]. Now it's almost turned around," Coddington says.

Those who oppose the Reagan restrictions argue that the Administration is hiding behind the mosaic theory to prevent scrutiny of its policies. "The intent of that argument is to have the discretionary power to limit information," Blanton says. "What they're trying to do is to get a free pass on classifying information to avoid embarrassment"

In addition, critics argue that the restrictions cannot succeed, because sophisticated intelligence gatherers are able to piece together scientific information despite strict controls. "What any researcher worth their salt does is construct mosaics," Blanton says

Critics of the Reagan Administration's information policies have looked to Harvard for leadership. During the past several years, Shattuck and Harvard have led the crusade to roll back the Administration's information restrictions.

Experts say that a July 1985 report by Shattuck entitled "On the Free Flow of Information and Ideas", which attacked the Administration's efforts, inspired the higher education community to unite against the Administration's policies of information restriction.

Harvard and Shattuck form "a pretty unbeatable combination," Blanton says. Shattuck "is the first person people on Capitol Hill turn to on this issue."

Harvard's Office of Sponsored Research oversees all scientific projects which receive outside funding. The office enforces Harvard's rules against government controls on research and prevents Harvard scientists from accepting strictures--such as prepublication review--that would severely limit their freedom to share their results.