July 26, 2002

When Science Becomes Interdisciplinary

To the Editor:

Jeffrey Brainard asserts that interdisciplinary work is driving restructuring of university research ("U.S. Agencies Look to Interdisciplinary Science," June 14). But it is unclear how this might happen. Unless institutional barriers to collaboration are present, faculty members are generally free to collaborate regardless of disciplinary organization. Funding opportunities, common research interests, and faculty willingness to share research resources and credit are