Reflections on Over Fifty Years in Research and Development; Some Lessons Learned

This paper presents some thoughts about research in science and technology (S&T) gleaned from my more than 50 years working in scientific and engineering research- first in the chemical industry, then at two different government laboratories, and later some years in S&T policy. It elaborates...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lyons, John W
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
COLLABORATION
ENGINEERING
ENGINEERS
EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH
IN HOUSE RESEARCH
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
LABORATORIES
LABORATORY MANAGEMENT
LABORATORY RESEARCH
LESSONS LEARNED
ORGANIZATION
PEER REVIEW
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
PLANNING
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RESEARCH FACILITIES
RESEARCH MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH PERSONNEL
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
SCIENTISTS
STAFFING
Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods
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Summary:This paper presents some thoughts about research in science and technology (S&T) gleaned from my more than 50 years working in scientific and engineering research- first in the chemical industry, then at two different government laboratories, and later some years in S&T policy. It elaborates on a paper by Richard Chait in which he interviews three former S&T executives in the Department of Defense (DOD) on how to manage a research laboratory. In this paper, I expand on the comments made to Dr. Chait and provide a broad context for my discussion. In addition, this paper connects a number of subjects discussed in several other papers published by the Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP). My objective is to provide some insights on what it is like to work in a scientific research establishment. My hope is that this will be of some value for the senior manager who has no laboratory experience but is responsible for overseeing a research department. I also hope the paper will help new technical personnel just entering the laboratory for the first time. For experienced laboratory staff, the paper will contain many familiar ideas and perhaps some that are controversial. Some of the paper deals with the DOD technical programs.