acquire secret processes, technical data, inventions, patent applications, patents, licenses, land and interests in land (including water rights), plants and facilities, and other property or rights by purchase, license, lease, or donation;

assemble and maintain pertinent and current scientific literature, both domestic and foreign, and issue bibliographical data with respect thereto;

cause on-site inspections to be made of promising projects, domestic and foreign, and, in the case of projects located in the United States, cooperate and participate in their development in instances in which the purposes of this Act will be served thereby;

foster and participate in regional, national, and international conferences relating to saline water conversion;

coordinate, correlate, and publish information with a view to advancing the development of low-cost saline water conversion projects; and cooperate with other Federal departments and agencies, with State and local departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, and with interested persons, firms, institutions, and organizations.

Research and development activities undertaken by the Secretary shall be coordinated or conducted jointly with the Department of Defense to the end that developments under this Act which are primarily of a civil nature will contribute to the defense of the Nation and that developments which are primarily of a military nature will, to the greatest practicable extent compatible with military and security requirements, be available to advance the purposes of this Act and to strengthen the civil economy of the Nation. The fullest cooperation by and with Atomic Energy Commission, the Department of Health Education and Welfare, the Department of State, and other concerned agencies shall also be carried out in the interest of achieving the objectives of this Act.