I n past FRL Biennial Reports we have mentioned the increase in issue-driven research by FRL scientists, as well as the challenges to funding of research that the FRL has faced during the past 10 years. One of the ways in which the FRL has addressed these situations is by increasing the amount of collaborative research that we do. Working with others helps to identify problems and issues that are significant for the state and the region, and it also helps to increase the effectiveness of the money spent and, in some cases, to make more funds available for focusing on these important concerns. All in all, true research collaboration generally leads to work that is more efficient, solutions that are more effective, and a shared feel-ing of ownership of the results that may extend beyond the FRL and the university to those who will use the results and gain from them.
Collaborative research comes in many Forms.
Probably its simplest form is when two or more scientists decide to pool their talents and resources to address an issue or problem they consider to be impor-tant. And perhaps the most focused and structured research collaborations are those that result from the activities of a consortium or cooperative in which the membership jointly identifies and prioritizes researchable issues and, by pooling resources and ideas, commis-sions and finances studies to resolve those issues. From the hundreds of ongoing FRL projects, we have selected 16 to illustrate various types of collaborative research. Another basis for selecting these projects is that they illustrate the FRL s philosophy of balancing basic and applied research.