The records of the S.I.O. Alpha Helix Program Office consist of 11 record cartons (13.75 linear ft.) of material dated 1966-1980. The records principally document expeditions and the work of scientists associated with the program. The collection includes reports, correspondence, National Science Foundation proposals, personnel files, participant forms, photographs, reprints, bibliographies, a publication card file, and administrative material.

The research vessel Alpha Helix was a National Oceanographic Facility of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) for experimental biology, owned and operated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, from February 1966 to August 1980. It is funded and sponsored by the National Science Foundation and scheduled by UNOLS. The concept for the vessel was proposed to Scripps Institution in 1958 by Dr. Per F. Scholander, a distinguished physiologist and director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Physiological Research Laboratory from 1963-1970. Dr. Scholander concluded that many fundamental biological problems could best be investigated by teams of competent scientists supported by the advanced technology and equipment of a floating laboratory. The ship was proposed by Dr. Scholander and supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation in 1962.In response to a proposal (UCSD 963) of May 22, 1961, the National Science Foundation grant F-24831 was awarded by letters of June 30, 1962, August 22, 1963, and August 5, 1964 to the Regents of the University of California for support of the Construction and Operation of Biological Laboratory Ship and Associated Shore Facility. This project is under the direction of P.F. Scholander, Division of Marine Biology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego. The sum $1,481,155 included in this grant paid for the construction and equipping of the R/V Alpha Helix. The only statement of the mission of the ship in the granting instruments is the following, from Director Alan T. Waterman's letter of June 30, 1962, to President Clark Kerr:The unique advantage of the Alpha Helix is that its research facilities bring areas of exceptional biological interest into direct contact with modern laboratories. For our program this is a particular advantage because many proteins become altered (denatured) to some degree even when stored at very low temperatures. To be able to compare absolutely fresh material from many species is a rare and welcome opportunity. 3The Alpha Helix Program comprises one of the most imaginative and productive research efforts of the United States. Professor Per Scholander conceived the Alpha Helix as providing a milieu in which teams of recognized international scientists could live together as they attacked fundamental biomedical problems. The guiding philosophy of the National Advisory Board of the Alpha Helix has always embraced this precept and implemented it whenever possible. 4In looking ahead we can offer no better recommendation than to urge the continuance of and adherence to the current Guidelines for Management Oversight of R/V Alpha Helix Program. We feel that these guidelines which were the result of a great deal of effort by your staff, our Committee and the National Science Foundation offer the best means of operating the Alpha Helix as a uniquely valuable facility for the entire scientific community. 5It appears that the cause, or causes, of the current low demand are not remediable in the near term by any action that NSF, UNOLS or Scripps can take, and that the causes must be addressed in the long term if a national capability in expeditionary biology is to be preserved. 6The continued use of Alpha Helix as a field experimental biology facility does not appear certain in the short term, though it may come back into such employment several years hence. The program office and staff are funded until early spring, 1980, and a great deal of field and shore-based work requiring the technicians services remains before then. Unless a marked change in funded activity from U.S. sources or an immediate influx of long-term foreign support takes place, the Alpha Helix field program will not be in effect after early early 1980. 7This grant NSF #OCE 78-07340 provided field and clerical support to carry out the Alpha Helix Program, which employed the research vessel Alpha Helix as a field experimental biology National Facility operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California. Overall guidance, and administrative responsibility, was provided by the non-salaried Principal Investigator who headed the program as part of his Associate Director's duties. The program concluded about 15 years of operation in mid-1980 and Alpha Helix was assigned by the Foundation to other uses. As your records show, the Alpha Helix Program Office support grant from the Foundation (OCE 78-07340, of which I am Principal Investigator) will terminate on 31 August 1980. 8We consulted widely with all our committees at SIO and we have essentially unanimous agreement that we dispose of the vessel rather than lease it. The most likely alternative is to return the vessel to the government via National Science Foundation as quickly as possible. If the vessel is returned to the NSF they personally will go through their usual procedure of advertising the vessel and it will be assigned in a regular priority fashion to the appropriate bidder, or, in other words, the next institution in line. 91The Floating Biological Laboratory: Concept and Realization, An Assessment of the first Five Years of Operation of the Research Vessel Alpha Helix, 1966-1970 and Recommendations for It's Future Mission, A Report Requested by the National Science Foundation Prepared by the National Advisory Board for the R/V Alpha Helix, May, 1971, University of California, San Diego.

11 boxes (13.75 linear feet)

Student and personnel records are restricted in accordance with law and university policy.

Collection is open for research.