In 2005, West Virginia science and education leaders developed a strategic plan entitled: "Vision 2015: The West Virginia Science and Technology Strategic Plan." The plan is comprised of five (5) target areas for infrastructure development, with 14 goals for action by designated leaders from higher education, state government, and…

Research universities, both public and private alike, are the leading producers of science and engineering (S&E) bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. They are contributors to economic development at the local, state, and national levels, performing over half of the Nation's total basic research in 2009, and they educate and train our…

Autonomy is a social product. Although some might view autonomy as the absence of social interference in individual action, it is in fact produced through social institutions. It enables social actors to act; it is the justification for the allocation of enormous public resources into institutions classified as "public" or "nonprofit;" it can lead…

Reports that the space agency provides universities with resources to invigorate and increase the effectiveness of space-related engineering research and education. Lists selected University Space Engineering Research Centers with a description of their concept, a program schedule, information and address for submitting future proposals for a…

Outlines one university's process of planning and preparing a successful proposal for a space research center which focused on a broad, cross-disciplinary study. States that as a result of the center, four new graduate courses were offered and a higher than average enrollment was attracted to the school. (RT)

This document concerns the operation and evaluation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) program. Included with a general letter addressing the operation of the program are several appendices which attempt to answer the questions put forth in the letter. These appendices include considerations of: (1)…

Research universities may pay for their share of research expenditures out of any unrestricted funds accounts including tuition. A subsidy of research by tuition cannot be ruled out and might contribute to the persistently higher tuition of research universities. Arguments for and against this view are offered. (PVD)

This annual report provides an analysis of federal research and development (R&D) funding by functional classification based on data in the President's budget. It includes only federal funding of R&D programs and excludes R&D facilities and all non-R&D activities. This report is designed to facilitate examination of the relative importance of R&D…

Examines the effects of increased industrial funding on academic research in science. Highlights the funding arrangements at Carnegie-Mellon University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and discusses the impact of university-industry ties. (ML)

Presents historical accounts of patenting and past experiments in academic patent management. These cases highlight the motivations, expectations, and results for scientists, their institutions, and the public. (ML)

Addresses issues and assesses developments in research and development collaborative efforts between universities and industry. Provides an historical context and explores current industry-university alliances. (ML)

Examines the ethics, economics, manpower needs and future regulation of biotechnology. Discusses the new tests of the basic premise of the universality of knowledge gained from university research as attempts are made to patent and temporarily withhold publication of proprietary discoveries made with taxpayer support. (CW)

Notes the contributions that research universities are making to research and development in the United States, including their impact on science policy and economic growth. Urges that more funds be put into academic research institutions, arguing that current levels are proportionately low. (TW)

In recent years state governments have taken steps to strengthen their economic bases by promoting growth of high-technology industries within their borders. A byproduct of this effort has been an increasing need for information on the geographic distribution of research and development (R&D) expenditures. The information in this report permits…

Scientific and technical journals in biology and medicine in recent years have extensively covered a debate about whether and how to determine the function and order of human genes on human chromosomes and when to determine the sequence of molecular building blocks that comprise DNA in those chromosomes. In 1987, these issues rose to become part…