For several decades there has been a general concern that the level of research funding for academic instrumentation was not sufficient to keep pace with the requirements of cutting edge research. To develop the factual trend data necessary to understand the depth of the problems in academia and thus provide an adequate response to these concerns,…

Reports results of a study for NSF on the scientific instrumentation needs of research universities. Examines current status of scientific instruments in 16 major research universities, six government laboratories, and nine commercial laboratories; and identifies factors that facilitate or impede their acquisition, use, and development. (CS)

Presents a description of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a center where scientists pursue research interests, where research facilities, too large and expensive for any one institution to maintain, are housed, and where unified planning for research is made in response to national and international concerns. (SA)

Focuses on recent research on currents and eddies of the earth's oceans. Special emphasis is given to instrumentation involved in studying the oceans. (SA)

Focuses on the activities of regional instrumentation centers that utilize the state-of-the-art instruments and methodology in basic scientific research. The emphasis is on the centers involved in mass spectroscopy, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, lasers, and accelerators. (SA)