Three issues of this newsletter of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) provide articles, columns by the Institute Director, and news items. The major articles include: "Adapting the Marketing Concept to the Dissemination and Utilization of Disability Research"; "NIDRR Grantees' Q & A about…

This proceedings presents the papers from a workshop on engineering writing and professional communications. The purpose of the workshop was to share resources and ideas for improving the teaching of professional communications within engineering colleges. The papers are: (1) "Engineering the Written Word" (keynote address) (Craig A.…

This document reports the Research and Development Funding and Performance by Nonprofit Organizations for fiscal years of 1996-1997. Two different questionnaires were used to collect data on the research and development activities of nonprofit organizations. Sections include: (1) Detailed Statistical Tables: Nonprofit Performers of Research and…

Interdisciplinary research centers provide an important part of the university's response to the shifting programmatic needs of our society. (Author)

A review of evaluation of product and program development in laboratory and research and development centers. (Editor)

This article describes the six regional instrumentation facilities established by the National Science Foundation. These centers make available to scientists state-of-the-art instrumentation such as: gas chromatographs; lasers; NMR spectrometers; X-rays; and others. (CS)

Some of the presumed advantages that research centers and institutes have over the individual investigator are: (1) the ability to study large and/or long-range problems; (2) increased interaction with multidisciplinary colleagues; (3) the development of new and improved instrumentation; (4) their potential role in communications and…

Petroleum and chemicals still distinguish the Texas high-technology sector from its counterparts in other states. Employment growth in Texas has shifted recently, first to civilian durable goods--particular personal computers--and then to high-tech services. (Author)

Examines the impact of innovative entrepreneurship and the needs of developing and transitional economies. Outlines the operation of the European Commission's Business and Innovation Centres. Suggests that innovation must be viewed as a major issue in all enterprises and that greater recognition be given to the role of innovative small and…

The example of a Swedish factory shows that it is possible for a "low-tech" company with no research and development and a low level of formally educated staff to be highly competitive. It succeeds through its tradition of industrial creativity and craft, innovative spirit, practical skills, and the organizational knowledge of a mature…

The constructs associated with primary prevention are used to consider the tenets of positive psychology. At the same time, issues from the literature on positive psychology can help to expand and strengthen research on primary prevention. Conclusions are reached about the potential bi-directional influences that these fields can have on each…

Discusses emerging ideas about the future of federal research and development activities as they relate to the future of industry and especially to institutions of higher learning. Discusses energy research today, a future perspective, the future of the research community, and challenges. Highlights the future orientation of the Office of Energy…

Proposes that in order to move beyond the simple identification of risk factors, scientific suicidology needs to give greater attention to the critical role of theory in guiding inquiry and advancing the understanding of suicidal behaviors. This article argues the importance of theoretical grounding from the perspective of psychological science…