Oceanographers and the US Federal Patron: Perceptions of Agency-University Relations

Abstract

The basic research ideal, with its emphasis on autonomy, freedom, flexibility and peer governance, is a cornerstone of the traditional norms and values of the scientific community. Scientists' attitudes towards government funding agencies and assessments of their performance are influenced by the extent to which agency programmes and practices reflect these basic research ideals. This discussion, based on an extensive survey and interview data with United States academic marine scientists, examines the patterns of contacts between the scientists and two kinds of federal funding agencies — one emphasizing basic research (`science-oriented'), the other research required to fulfil agency responsibilities (`mission-oriented'). The study examines marine scientists' perceptions of the nature of working relationships, experiences in agency contacts, and judgements about the quality of agency-sponsored research. On each of these dimensions, academic marine scientists rate science-oriented agencies more favourably than those whose support is influenced by their missions. Programme officers in the basic research agencies appear more likely to share the traditional norms of science with their academic colleagues than those seeking to meet the mission responsibilities of their agencies.