Chapter V. Basic Research
Army Science and Technology Master Plan (ASTMP 1997)

E. Survey of Scientific Research

The Army has established a vigorous research program covering a wide range of disciplines to capture and exploit the new opportunities presented by research advances and discoveries. This program is executed primarily by university contractors and in-house laboratory and RDEC personnel and includes efforts in the physical sciences (mathematics, computer and information sciences, physics, chemistry, and electronics research); the engineering sciences (mechanics, civil engineering, energy conversion, aeronautics, and materials); the environmental sciences (atmospheric and terrestrial sciences); and the life sciences (biological, medical, behavioral, and social sciences).

Within this wide spectrum of research, several primary areas emerge that are of particular importance to tomorrow's Army:

1. Mathematical sciences
2. Computer and informational sciences
3. Physics
4. Chemistry
5. Materials science
6. Electronics research
7. Mechanical sciences
8. Atmospheric sciences
9. Terrestrial sciences
10. Medical research
11. Biological sciences
12. Behavioral, cognitive, and neural sciences

The following sections briefly describe each of these research areas.