Riding the Momentum: Interdisciplinary Research Centers to Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs

Abstract

A natural, positive outcome in this age of interdisciplinary research is the emergence of interdisciplinary research centers.At the University of Kansas, we have a long history of interdisciplinary research centers dating back to the 1920's.We have capitalized on this strength to achieve an unprecedented growth in research over the last several years.In the fall of 2003, in a conversation with our chancellor Robert Hemenway and me, Elias Zerhouni, the director of the National Institutes of Health, stated in so many words that universities should not be adding money to academic units.Instead, Zerhouni said, they should be investing in interdisciplinary research centers.This relates to Steve Warren's comments regarding the NIH's view of the success of centers. 1