This brief examines changes in research and development emphasis in the academic sector--which conducts roughly half of the nation's basic research--by analyzing shifts in the science and engineering field shares during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Both the shifting distribution of overall funds among science and engineering fields and the effects of these changes in terms of their impacts on the individual fields are discussed. Data is examined to determine whether major differences exist in the shifts in field shares for federal and nonfederal funds for academic research and development. (CCM)