The paper describes the origins, development and present state of information services regarding current research projects in the USA. It covers individual agency systems, the combined Government-wide database (Federal Research in Progress - FEDRIP) and other means for locating information about ongoing research, such as laboratory directories, research newsletters and trade publications. Finally, it discusses new policy developments designed to strengthen research reporting and new technical develop ments that are influencing the diffusion of information about current research.
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References
1.
A classic discussion of the evolution of science and politics in the USA is: D.K. Price, The Scientific Estate (Oxford University Press, 1965).
2.
National Science Foundation, National Patterns of R&D Resources: 1992, by J.E. Jankowski, Jr. (Report Number NSF 92-330) (Washington, DC, 1992) pp. 13-14.
3.
In US terminology, one billion equals one thousand million.
4.
National Patterns of R&D Resources, ibid., p. 15.
5.
National Patterns of R&D Resources, ibid., p. 5.
6.
S.L. Deignan and E. Miller, The support of research in medical and allied fields for the period 1946 through 1951, Science115(2987) (1952) 321-343.
7.
D.F. Hersey, Information systems for research in progress. In: Annual Review of Information Science and Technology: Volume 13, 1978 (Knowledge Industry Publications Inc . for American Society for Information Science, White Plains, NY, 1979) pp. 263-295.
8.
Smithsonian Science Information Exchange Inc. (ed.), Information Services on Research in Progress - A Worldwide Inventory2nd ed. ( Unesco, Paris, 1982). US services are described on pp. 240-261.
9.
The Smithsonian Institution operates partially with Government funds and partially with the private endowment received in the nineteenth century from James Smithson. SSIE was a component of the private part of the Smithsonian, operating under contract to NSF.
10.
National Technical Information Service, The FEDRIP Database on DIALOG: A Search Guide (PR-847) (NTIS, Springfield, VA, 1991) [Fall 1993 interim reprint].
11.
National Technical Information Service, 1993 NTIS Products and Services Catalog p. 7.
12.
National Technical Information Service, The FEDRIP Database on DIALOG: A Search Guide.
13.
Public Law 102-245, section 108, Transfer of Federal Scientific and Technical Information.
14.
D.F. Hersey, ibid, pp. 267-270.
15.
US General Accounting Office, Coordination of Computerized Information Systems Reporting on Active Research Efforts (Report no. B115398) (Washington, DC, 29 March 1973).
16.
National Technical Information Service and National Technology Transfer Center, Directory of Federal Laboratory and Technology Resources - A Guide to Services. Facilities, and Expertise, 5th Edition (NTIS, Springfield, VA , 1993). Order number PB93-100097, US $65 in North America, $130 elsewhere.
17.
Gale Research Inc., Government Research Directory, 6th Edition, 1991-92 (Gale Research, Detroit, MI, 1991).
18.
Gale Research Inc., Research Centers Directory, 18th Edition, 1994 (Gale Research, Detroit, MI , 1993).
19.
Oryx Press, Directory of Research Grants, 199318th ed. (Oryx, Phoenix, AZ, 1993).
20.
Users may connect to FedWorld via the Internet by telnetting to 'fedworld.gov' or by modem at 703-321-8020. Payment is required for downloading some products.
21.
National Patterns of R&D Resources, ibid, p. 3.
22.
Federally-funded R&D centers are entirely funded by the Federal Government, but managed under contract by universities or private companies.
23.
National Patterns of R&D Resources, ibid, p. 69.
24.
National Patterns of R&D Resources, ibid, p. 74.
25.
SBIR is a Government-wide program. The subfile, produced by the Small Business Administration, contains descriptions of projects sponsored by many agencies.
