EDUCATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM FOR $15,000 TO ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (RIT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05703A000200030011-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 10, 2004
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: October 29, 1970
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Rele'e 2004/03/26 : CIA-RDP78B05703A0O00030011-9
NPIC/D-27'3/70
OCT 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligencc~'< SUBJECT Educational Grant Program for $15,000 to
Rochester. Institute of Technology (RIT)
1. This memorandum requests approval for continuation
of the subject program. The specific request is stated in
paragraph 6.
2. In 1966, NPIC funded an educational. grant in photo-
graphic science to RIT for $14,500. It provided support to
students in this field for the preparation of theses for bache-
lor's and master's degrees. The origi_na.l purpose for this pro-
gram persists today; namely, to encourage students in the photo-
sciences to choose more sophisticated and comprehensive thesis
projects than they might otherwise select because of limita-
tions imposed by personal finances. Other purposes were to
acquire training and consultation from the RIT faculty at no
charge for their time, and to recruit grant recipients as
future NPIC officers. The grant has been renewed each year
.since its inception, being increased to the present $15,000
level in FY-69. Our experience shows this general level to
be adequate. From the beginning this has been an overt pro-
gram; our grant awards, together with Agency association, have
been announced by RIT for the public record. There have been
no unfavorable results.
.3. Annually the grant has supported an average of nine stu-
dents across seven thesis topics. The FY-71 program will pro-
vide similar support. Thesis research topics are chosen by
the students with the approval of a Faculty Board. Our Pro-
ject Officer coordinates with the Board to ensure that approved
thesis problems are related-to Center interests. The basic
scientific nature of academic theses limits predictions on
how---and more particularly when--knowledge gained can be put
to practical use. This research often provides glimpses of
problems or techniques that can have future impact on Center
activities. Examples from the FY-70 program included a paper
Declass Review by NGA
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Approved Foelease 2004/03/26 C14-IkDP78B05703A000200030011-9
StJI>JECl': 1 ducational Grant Program for $15,000 to
Rochester Institute of Technology (]ZIT)
which describes an experiment in which poor correlation was
discovered in resolution measurements made using common bar
target designs. This alerted us to a potential. requirement
for a Center-defined. standard target for such measurements.
.A second paper described a computerized approach to correlat-
ing object color to image color for infrared color film. This
film, which finds use in camouflage detection, distorts image
color to permit a visual presentation of infrared reflectance
from the object. This was an attempt to reduce confusion.
brought on by such deliberately color-distorted photography
and to promote PI acceptance of this material. A final ex-
ample was a. paper in which a monobath photo development pro-
cess was investigated to determine its ability to produce.image
edge enhancement. This work augments an in-house program
directed toward producing edge enhancement through viscous
processing. An approach using a. viscous monobath is an in-
triguing path for investigation implicit in this thesis. Thesis
.research relates to the Center's R&D program mainly through the
Reproduction, and the Image Analysis and Manipulation Categories.
In addition to thesis research, a minimum of three training
seminars given by the RIT faculty are held at NPIC. This latter
facet of the Grant Program is closely coordinated with the
Applied. Photo-Science Division. This is a. low risk program.
4. RIT continues to be recommended as the recipient of
this grant because its School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
is the largest and best equipped in the free world having
some 219 dark rooms, 55 studios, and 69 labs and support areas.
Its faculty is hi-hl res ected. To date, we have two former
grant recipients, as NPIC officers;
others have served as co-op students. proposes that we
continue the grant in the amount of $15,000 to cover the
academic year ending 30 June 1971. We believe the program
is of sufficient value to continue at this modest level. We
shall scrutinize FY-71 results before deciding to carry the
program beyond that time.
5. I I will serve as Project
Officer for this program. is appropriate
for this work.
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/03/26: L -- '78B05703A000200030011-9
 Approved For Release 2004/03/26: CIA-RDP78B05703A000200030011-9
SUBJECT: I:duct--itional Grant Program for $1.5,000 to
Rochester Institute of Technology (Ri.T)
6. It is requested that expenditure of $15,000 from
object class 41 FY-71. funds be approved to continue this
program through June 1971.
25X1
ARTHUR C. LUNDAHL
Director
National Photographic Interpretation Center
Attachments:
1. Proposal
2. Form 2420
R. J. SMITH
Deputy Director for Intelligence
Distribution:
Original - NPIC/SS/SCF,P13 (After approval)
1 - DDI
3
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