Brainpower

Believing as he does that too little federal money has been put into scientific research in recent years, Dr. Lee A. Du-Bridge, 67, is sure to be popular among his professional colleagues. Named last week as Science Adviser to the Nixon Administration, the articulate president of the California Institute of Technology will need all the teaching and administrative experience he has gained at five universities. His responsibilities will include keeping the President abreast of scientific developments at home and abroad, selling the Administration's policies to the academic community, and intensifying the nation's federal and private research effort.

DuBridge enjoys immense respect among his fellow scientists, and his appointment was viewed by them as an excellent one. Though a physicist deeply devoted to the intricacies of basic science, DuBridge has built his reputation primarily as a thoughtful and creative administrator. He is also a social activist in Los Angeles, where he is chairman of the local Urban Coalition. Speaking at Notre Dame last year, Dr. DuBridge decried the use of university facilities for secret research into such things as weaponry.

While Nixon was evaluating and announcing appointments, his 18 temporary task forces were hard at work preparing studies on priorities that face the new President. The reports are due by the end of the year. Among the impressive list of task-force chiefs:

sbALAN PIFER, 47, an educator and head of the Carnegie Foundation, is preparing a report on all areas of education, with particular emphasis on methods of federal financing.

sbRICHARD C. CORNUELLE, 41, is a rare combination of social activist and political conservative. Hired by the National Association of Manufacturers to head up the Center for Independent Action, he has been deeply concerned with the role of private enterprise in helping the poor. He is putting this experience to work as head of the task force on voluntary action.

sbDR. CHARLES TOWNES, 53, of the University of California at Berkeley, is the inventor of the laser. His area of study is to determine what should come after the Apollo program. His ideas will be coordinated with those of DR. HORTON GUYFORD STEVER, 52, president of the Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, who will look at the whole field of science policy.

sbCHARLES L. MILLER, 39, head of M.I.T.'s civil-engineering department, is working with 20 other experts on the foreseeable tangles in transportation.

sbJOHN T. DUNLOP, 54, a Harvard economics professor, has applied his academic specialty to the problems of the workingman. His task force will suggest improvements in public-health practices ranging from Medicaid to drug control.

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