New Directions for Biosciences Research in Agriculture High-Reward Opportunities (1985) / Chapter Skim
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6. The Optimal Climate for Basic Research
6. The Optimal Climate for Basic Research
Pages 105-117
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From page 105... ...
It is also characterized by the flow of researchers in and out of laboratories, their personalities and influence, publications, instrumentation, the network of communications, and the overall structure and policies of the institution. In their study Zenzen and Restive state: Scientific knowledge is created out of available resources -- including formal and informal modes of communication, and instrumentation.
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From page 106... ...
Floyd E Bloom in his summary of Frontiers In Science and Technology2 states: In such an era of rapid transformation, the structures for basic research and technological development must be dynamic and must be constantly freshened by the infusion of new and highly trained scientists and engineers, by the very best instrumentation, and by unfettered communication of fundamental knowledge.
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From page 107... ...
All research organizations are attempting changes to stimulate new means of multidisciplinary research and development. Many private corporations are developing significant internal postdoctoral research programs in the biological sciences.
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From page 108... ...
The subcouncils would be similar to the existing advisory committee at the ARS Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York. It is imperative that the members of the ARSAC be selected from among those national leaders in agricultural research who have a strong and active research background.
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From page 109... ...
The ARSAC would act as a non-ARS source of information about state-of-the-art developments throughout the United States and the world for the ARS administrator and for other ARS leadership such as the National Program Staff. The ARSAC would suggest specific programs in basic agricultural sciences that will provide the highest dividends to U.S.
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From page 110... ...
New Centers The committee was informed of the plans for the Plant Gene Expression Center to be established in collaboration with the University of California at Berkeley and the California Agricultural Experiment Station, and supports this novel plan. me new center, which will be located at the ARS Western Regional Center in Albany, California, offers a new opportunity for increased focus on basic research in the plant sciences.
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From page 111... ...
The ARS must constantly consider other new opportunities arising in the agricultural sciences and seek innovative ways such as this to exploit these opportunities. Interdisciplinary Activities me ARS has an unusually broad base and has excelled in many areas of traditional biology.
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From page 112... ...
(Twenty-five researchers were hired in fiscal year 1984, and future additions are anticipated.) The committee recommends that the ARS aggressively expand its newly adopted program, with the goal being a steady state of about 750 nontenured positions dedicated to postdoctoral fellows and senior staff fellows.
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From page 113... ...
Successful implementation of a growing postdoctoral program would assure the ARS stature as a major contributor to U.S. competitiveness in providing trained people for the agricultural sciences, much as the National Institutes of Health is viewed as a provider of trained personnel for the medical research community.
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From page 114... ...
The committee recognizes that long-term financial planning is essential, but budgets must be shaped with an inherent flexibility to allow for redirection of research into unexpectedly promising new scientific areas. m e ARS should designate approximately 10 percent of the total budget of centers as flexible funds to support meeting attendance and research-related travel, and perhaps more importantly, to allow for a rapid response to significant findings that require a change in research direction.
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From page 115... ...
Publications Limited peer review of papers within the ARS laboratory, combined with a routine scientific journal review, will bring research results into publication more quickly. A protracted internal publications approval process is unnecessary.
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From page 116... ...
me establishment of additional relationships between strong university groups and select ARS scientists is encouraged. Such relationships involving even just a few ARS scientists can bring that number to the essential critical mass needed for the pursuit of creative research.
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From page 117... ...
The ARS, as with the entire research establishment, can most effectively adapt to the rapid pace of scientific developments and maintain research leadership by creating a competitive yet rewarding research environment that attracts and encourages the most creative and productive scientists. This foundation will be critical in establishing strong competitive programs, in both U.S.
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