1998 Research Symposium Panel Mary Kihl's Presentation

Outline of presentation made by:

Mary Kihl
Director, Herberger Center for Design Excellence, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Arizona State University		(l to r) Panel moderator Michelle Rinehart and panelists Bob Johnson and Mary Kihl

Enhancing the Climate for Architectural Research at an Emerging Research University

I. Universities look to Externally Funded Research as

• a vehicle for expanding knowledge
• a supplement to an income stream
• a means of furthering prestige
• attracting quality graduate students, and

• (applied research) as a means of addressing the service mission

II. How does Architectural Research fit this agenda?

• what is Architectural Research?
• lack of understanding across campus reflects ...
• lack of coherence in our own college and schools

III. Focus for Architectural Research is very broad

• ARCC member survey--limited return rate, but broadly represents types of members in ARCC--small to large

-- Types of research pursued in member schools and (number of respondents)

• design 6
• technology 6
• representation/computers 4
• history/theory 3
• behavior, human interface 3
• urban design/planning 5
• landscape architecture 4
• environmental assessment 3

-- Varied orientations among faculty

Individual research (discipline-based, limited external funding)

• History, Theory, Criticism
• Design
• Design Education

Community Service--applied research (interdisciplinary, local funding)

• can involve studio classes

• urban design center

Targeted Research Groups--interdisciplinary, centers (external funding available)

• team up with engineering, business, psychology, agriculture etc.
• computer/representation offers value added to interdisciplinary teams

Only the targeted research areas actually generate significant levels of external research dollars. The level of this funding differs considerably among responding ARCC members schools. The reporting units included 2 architectural departments and 4 interdisciplinary design schools or colleges

Funding level:

External (funds from outside university)	Internal (college or university funds)
3.7 million	NA
1.8 million	50 thousand
1.3 million	98 thousand
1.3 million	70 thousand
57 thousand	117 thousand
2 thousand	10 thousand

There does not seem to be a clear relationship between the amount of seed money invested in the program and the level of external research money generated. Some architecture and design schools obviously generate a considerable amount of external funding, but many lag behind other units on campus. Given the increased interest of Universities in increasing the level of research funds generated it is important that the College of Architecture not appear to be at the periphery of the university.

The objective is to:
BE KNOWN AS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE UNIVERSITY MISSION

Hence the school will want to position architecture research to:

• Build on strengths of university
• Respond to interests of the broader community
• Partner with noted industrialists, responsive local agencies, respected non profits
• Forge links with funded units across campus--as full partners
• Build cross-institutional partnerships (such as through ARCC)

Some key strategies include:

• Seed targeted research internally
• Require contributing community partners for community-based research
• The same faculty cannot successfully do both community outreach and targeted research
• Reinforce targeted areas with key hires
• Heavily market successes--among all forms of research

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This page was last updated on 22 April 2008.
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