CENTENNIAL DIRECTIONS 



tional or theoretical in nature. Consequently, most of 

 our research programs are either active field studies (ex- 

 peditions), which add to the Museum's collections, or 

 studies of museum holdings. In addition, in support of 

 exhibitions and education, we do review research for 

 exhibit outlines, catalogs, and public lectures. 



Field Museum has a significant record of expedi- 

 tions world-wide. In the past ten years alone, 68 Field 

 Museum researchers have conducted 216 field studies in 

 54 countries (Exhibit 7, page 12). These field efforts 

 have been the basis of major ongoing research programs 

 and have been instrumental in building the collections 

 and their associated data bases. 



In scholarly publication — an indicator of achieve- 

 ment in basic research — our record is similarly impres- 

 sive. Our research staff have reported on their findings 

 in 487 journal articles, monographs, and books over the 

 past seven years. The quality of the research is evidenced 

 by its publication in peer-reviewed journals and by the 

 amount of reference it receives. Papers by Field Museum 

 curators were published in 90 different peer-reviewed 

 journals over the last nine years. In addition requests for 

 back issues of Fieldiana (Field Museum's research jour- 

 nal) and citations indicate that many of our major 

 monographic works are heavily used. 



Over the past five years, Field Museum curators 

 have served on more than 60 doctoral thesis com- 

 mittees, and 53 graduate students have worked in resi- 

 dence at the Museum. 



Grants are another form of recognition of research 

 quality. Field Museum scholars received 73 research 

 grants in a six-year period (Exhibit 6, page 11). As a 

 group, Field Museum biologists were ranked ninth in the 

 nation (out of 352 groups) in funding received between 

 1975 and 1979 from the Systematic Biology Program of 

 the National Science Foundation (Exhibit 5, page 11 ). 



Field Museum's collection resources and strong 

 reputation among its peers are tremendous assets. To 

 achieve its potential in research, the Museum needs to 

 stand squarely in the mainstream of the American 

 research and academic communities. Field Museum 

 faces a significant challenge in sustaining a strong main- 

 stream position in research, because research funding is 

 usually geared to degree-granting institutions. With a 

 small professional staff, the Museum must have clear 

 research objectives and must collaborate with other 

 14 scholars and institutions to strengthen, expand, and fi- 



nance collection-based research. 



To ensure that its limited research resources are 

 used to maximum benefit, Field Museum will focus 

 research efforts on two principal areas: 



* Evolutionary Biology. Our collections and research, 

 together with the University of Chicago and the Univer- 

 sity of Illinois (Chicago), make our city one of the 

 world's premier research centers in evolutionary biology. 

 The field encompasses some 20 million organisms and a 

 half billion extinct species. Basic research in evolution- 

 ary biology involves: recognizing, describing, and nam- 

 ing each of these organisms; discovering its specific place 

 and function in the diversity of life forms; investigating 

 the causes and consequences of that diversity; and 

 understanding the interdependence of living things with 

 each other and their physical environment. 



* Anthropology. Within anthropology, Field Museum 

 places particular emphasis on the nature of sociocultural 

 change and stability and the evolution of ethnic diver- 

 sity. The anthropological collections provide material 

 evidence of humankind's societies and technologies, and 

 thereby shed light on the mechanisms of transmission, 

 evolution, and change in culture and society. 



In addition to defining these two areas as a focus for 

 its research programs, the Museum has established a de- 

 tailed agenda for its research effort: 



* To attract and retain staff of the highest caliber, and to 

 provide for them an environment that stimulates com- 

 mitment to excellence. 



* To close the gap between available research funds and 

 program needs. 



* To collaborate, formally and informally, with compa- 

 rable institutions and Illinois colleges and universities 

 on research and educational efforts, including joint 

 appointments and programs, adjunct research and 

 teaching relationships, postdoctoral fellowships, and 

 sharing of equipment. Such collaboration has a signifi- 

 cant role to play in positioning the Museum as a major 

 research institution. 



* To encourage research on — and exhibition of — under- 

 utilized collections through research associates and visit- 

 ing curators. Doing so will help advance knowledge on 

 topics that are not necessarily in vogue at present and 

 will provide exposure for the collections. 



* To encourage student use of collections through 

 graduate dissertation fellowships and graduate and 

 undergraduate research projects. The resulting links to 



