This report describes many of the new digital research tools for science and engineering. These tools have irreversibly revolutionized the way research is now and will be conducted. For the most part research communities are adapting by welcoming these changes as necessary improvements for fostering productivity, speed, efficiency, precision, collaboration, and creativity. This willingness to adapt is generally perceived as positive and progressive (Nissenbaum, 1998).

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• AD HOC COMMITTEE ON BEING A SCHOLAR IN THE DIGITAL AGE
• GUIDANCE GROUP
• Preface
• 1. A Revolution in the Tools of Scientific and Engineering Research
  • INTRODUCTION
  • DIGITAL TOOLS
  • CHALLENGES TO THE INSTITUTIONS OF RESEARCH
  • VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES OF RESEARCHERS?
• 2. The Research Process in a Digital World
  • INTRODUCTION
  • OBSERVATION AND INQUIRY
  • CREATIVITY AND ANALYSIS
  • COLLABORATION
  • EXPERIMENTATION AND SIMULATION
  • DATA ARCHIVING AND ACCESS
  • PUBLISHING AND DISSEMINATION: THE CHANGING MEANING OF RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
  • A FUTURE OF CONTINUED INNOVATION
• 3. A Digital Infrastructure to Support Tomorrow's Research Communities
  • INTRODUCTION
  • LOCAL (INSTITUTIONAL) INFRASTRUCTURE
  • NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
  • SUPPORT FOR THE GLOBAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY
  • SOFTWARE AND COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS
  • INTO UNEXPLORED TERRITORY
• 4. Changing Expectations of the Researcher
  • INTRODUCTION
  • TEAMWORK
  • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
  • REWARDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACHIEVEMENTS
  • PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION
  • PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS
  • ENSURING THE INTEGRITY OF RESEARCH IN THE CHANGING DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT
  • THE ENDURING FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH
• References
• APPENDIX A Committee Member Biographies

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Grant No. EIA-9812623 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.