Manpower research needs for the 1970's and the development and purpose of manpower research centers were the themes of a 1-week summer Manpower Research Institute held at Ames, Iowa in 1970. Sponsored by the Industrial Relations Center and funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Manpower Institutional Grant Program, this interdisciplinary examination of manpower problems by 20 participants was intended to contribute to the effectiveness of social science instruction, promote manpower research at colleges and universities in the Great Plains States Region, and encourage application of research findings to manpower problems. Topics discussed in the 11 papers include: (1) manpower statistics and government research, (2) present and future trends affecting manpower development, (3) the nature of a longitudinal research project at Ohio State University, (4) a project examining management performance and development, (5) changes needed in the Social Science Research Centers, (6) interagency coordination needs, (7) the college community relationship, (8) ideas for management training derived from an international cross-cultural study, (9) priority areas for manpower research, and (10) responsibilities of an urban university towards its disadvantaged communities. (AG)