Bob Jacobs

Headquarters, Washington July 10, 2002

(Phone: 202/358-1760)

RELEASE: 02-123

REMAP TASK FORCE RECOGNIZED BY NASA ADMINISTRATOR

AND NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIR

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe today expressed his

appreciation for the work completed by an independent task
force, made up of Nobel laureates and world-class scientists
and engineers, charged with identifying research priorities
for the agency. The Research Maximization and Prioritization
Task Force, or ReMaP, completed an external review and
presented its Executive Summary this morning to the NASA
Advisory Council (NAC).

The following is a statement from Administrator O'Keefe.

"In March, I asked this distinguished panel to undertake the

difficult challenge to review, assess and help define the
science and research priorities for the Office of Biological
and Physical Research. OBPR has the unique environment of
space in which to conduct its research.

"The recommendations outlined by the ReMaP Task Force will

help NASA develop a comprehensive strategy that will fully
utilize the research capabilities of the International Space
Station, the Space Shuttle, and OBPR's full complement of
science-driven programs.

"One important ReMaP recommendation - establishing a Chief

Science Officer on board the International Space Station - is
something I hope to implement quickly once the criteria for
the position is firmly established. Expedition Five astronaut
Dr. Peggy Whitson would be an ideal candidate, considering
her extensive post-graduate background in scientific
research. We intend to move forward as expeditiously as
possible and make the Chief Science Officer an integral part
of every space station Expedition Crew.

"ReMaP Chair Dr. Rae Silver, Vice-Chair Dr. David Shirley,

and the rest of the dedicated members of this task force are
truly interested in seeing the full research potential of the
space station and this Agency realized, and I would like to
express my gratitude for their efforts.

"As I said, this is a challenge. It is the first time NASA

has attempted to prioritize its research objectives across
multiple disciplines into a comprehensive and fully
integrated research strategy. However, I believe it's a
manageable task and I'm encouraged by the work I've seen, so
far. I look forward to the final recommendations of the NASA
Advisory Council and working with the entire science
community to reap the full benefits of this Agency's space-
based research portfolio."

The NAC is expected to provide its final recommendations to

Administrator O'Keefe later this summer. The following is a
statement from Dr. Charles F. Kennel, Chair of the NASA
Advisory Council.

"The NAC wishes to thank the ReMaP Task Force for an

extremely difficult task done well in a short period of time.
It takes courage, insight, and determination for a group of
scientists to establish priorities between competing and
diverse subjects, which the ReMaP members have done admirably
in this challenging area. This contribution can guide NASA
now, and in the future, as it develops plans for the
International Space Station utilization.

"The NAC intends to ask NASA to explain how its science plans
fit with the ReMaP findings and recommendations, and how NASA
proposes to respond to the ReMaP recommendations concerning
the Office of Biological and Physical Research organization.
The NAC believes that the first priority for NASA is to reach
core complete as soon as possible, and agrees with the ReMaP
Task Force's recommendation that an expansion of ISS science
beyond that is essential.

"In the period of time prior to the NAC's September meeting,

the advisory council will work with NASA to develop an agenda
that will provide for a full, searching and vigorous
examination of all aspects of the ReMaP findings and
recommendations, together with NASA's response to those
findings, so that the NAC can propose positive and
constructive recommendations to NASA. It is the intention of
the NAC, working with NASA, to surface the key issues
surrounding this vital task."
Additional information from the ReMap Task Force is available
on the Internet at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsinfo/remap.html

-end-