Joint work among academic staff is important for solving the ever-increasing number of complex tasks that are becoming part of everyday activities in higher education. At the same time, diversification and internationalisation may challenge collaboration processes and communication demands. Speaking a shared language consistently could be a way of…

Two of Bourdieu's fundamental contributions to science studies--the reflexive analysis of the social and human sciences and the concept of an intellectual field--are used to frame a reflexive study of the history and social studies of science and technology as an intellectual field in the United States. The universe of large, Ph.D.-granting…

This article reviews the status of funding of the Department of Defense, presently and in earlier years. A discussion is presented on the increased emphasis towards supporting university research. (SA)

Describes the background of schemes to rationalize earth science departments in the United Kingdom. Discusses the rationale of these schemes and the controversy they have caused in the academic community. (CW)

The National Science Foundation's chemistry division has begun a year-long experiment to determine if the paperwork and red tape involved in research grants can be reduced, while at the same time increasing accountability for how the money is spent. (Author/BB)

The administrative structure of the physics department in a major European technical university is described, particularly with regard to the organization of teaching and research functions. The department is subdivided into an institute of theoretical physics and several institutes of experimental physics, with a more important subdivision into…

Reports of a survey of 36 Southeastern United States geoscience departments on policy, faculty size, salaries, teaching, and research. Departments are classified into five categories by university enrollment. (Author/MA)

Criticisms of attempts to measure the educational and research quality of universities are discussed, particularly with respect to methods that rely on the quality of faculty publications. However, it is argued that institutions supported by public funds must be accountable and some form of assessment is necessary. (JMD)

Discusses the driving force behind interdisciplinary research organizations such as intellectual and socioeconomic needs, skepticism of the organizations and questions of research quality. Elements of successful organizations including three approaches on tenure-promotion decisions are described. (YP)