Editorial. The Universities and Interdisciplinary ... - ACS Publications

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A N A LVTlC A b EDITORIAL

February 1970,Vol. 42, No. 2 Editor:

HERBERT A. W T I N E N

EDITORIAL HEAD UARTERS Washington D C 20036 1155 S d t h St’ N.W. Phone: 202-737-$337 Teletype: WA 23 Managing Editor: John K. Cruml Associate Editor: Virginia E. Stewart Editorial Asrirtants: Eugenie C. Callaghan. Sylvia Crawford C o n t r i b u t i n g Editor: Ralph H. MWer (Department of Chemiutry, L o w i n a State University, Baton Rouge) PRODUCTION STAFF Director of Design: Joseph J a c o b Production Manager: B a d Guiley Asrociate Production Manager: Charlotte C. Sayre Art and Layout: Norman W. Favin NEW YORKOFFICE 733 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 1OC17 212-867-3161

Arsociate Editor: Josephine M.‘Petruzzi EDITORIAL PRODUCIlON OFFICE, EASTON, PA. A s d r t a n t Editor: Elizabeth R. Rufe ADVISORY BOARD: Norman G. Anderson, Klaue Biemann Craig James 9. Fritz, John F b L c e r Marcel Golay Walter E. Harris, Joseph jordan, W. W a y d Memke R A. Osteryoung R. L. Pearok, Edwin ’P. ’Przyb lowicz b Lee Smith. Samuel M. T u t h J , Jam& D. Winefordner

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS Director of Publications, Richard L. Kenyon Director of Business Operations, Joaeph H. Kuney Publication Manager, Journab, David E. Gushee Executive Assistant to the Director of Publications, Rodney N . Hade? Circulation Director, Herbert C. Spencer Assistant to the Director of Publicatwru. Williim Q. Hull REGIONAL EDITORIAL BUREAUS PHILADELPHIA Pa. 19107. Philadelphia Natiokal Bank Budding Broad & Chestnut Streets CHICAGO, Ill. 60603 36 South Wabash Ave. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. 94104 57 Post St. LOSANGELES Calif. 90005 422 South West& Ave. HOUSTON Texas 77002 514 Main Bidg. 1212 Mam St. FRANKFUHT/MAIN West Germany 32 Grosae BockenheimektrLONDON, W. C. 2, England 27 John Adam St. TOKYO Japan Iikura Cintral Building, 4th Floor 12.hkura Kata-machi, Azabu Mmto-ku, Tokyo

The Universities and Interdisciplinary Research he universities are being asked increasingly to become involved in research programs relevant to the problems of society. It is characteristic of many such programs that they cut across the lines of traditional academic disciplines. A distinction is occasionally made between interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary programs according to whether experts from various departments are assembled into teams to seek solutions to specific problems or whether scholars from different discipiines share common research facilities to work on problems in the various fields. In this sense, the multidisciplinary approach, as exemplified by computer facilities or materials research laboratories, causes no particular strain on the traditional university organization. The interdisciplinary, or problem-oriented approach, on the other hand, brings up serious questions that need resolution if such programs are to make valid contributions to society without disrupting the traditional operations of universities. Such questions are discussed in a report entitled “The Universities and Environmental Quality” which is described in more detail in this month’s Editors’ column (page 139 A ) . If the interdisciplinary center is to have complete or substantial control over salaries of the staff involved, a mechanism must be present to ensure some measure of uniformity of standards as compared with the traditional departments. Likewise, the creation of new courses and curricula will call for safeguards against the trivial and inferior. Yet the importance of these problem-oriented studies is such that the universities must find ways to pursue them. The universities have enormous pools of expert knowledge that somehow must be tapped to tackle the problems of society without damaging their traditional search for excellence and untrammeled quest for new knowledge. The best assuranlce of quality and substance is for active participation, both in the formative and operative stages of such pragrams, by the leaders in the traditional academic departmenta.

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For submission of manuscripts, see page 4 A . ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 42, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 1970

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