The distinction between business and community development is not necessarily a useful one. It is in that spirit and with that philosophy that I direct my comments and lead ITS-Davis. I ll give some examples later. Let me say at this point that I believe strongly that for UC Davis and other major research universities to thrive, they must be more fully engaged in the world around them. In my own area of transportation research, I can generate, with little thought, a list of hundreds of interesting research topics.
Any professor can.
The same applies in the basic sciences. Clearly we want researchers to pursue topics of interest to them. But we as a society cannot afford a large research establishment that is not directed or constrained by any sense of societal need. The modern research university has become inefficient because the reward system is imbalanced and distorted by disciplinary publishing norms. But before I elaborate on how outreach and engagement can benefit us so much, let me highlight the many downsides and risks of becoming more fully engaged.