This method of education is carried out by apprenticing students to scientists who themselves are solving difficult problems at the research frontier. Undergraduate education is also strengthened when students are taught by scientists involved in discovering new knowledge firsthand. Looked at from the point of view of research, the universities collect the ablest minds and provide them with an environment that gives them the freedom and resources to pursue their own ideas. An integral part of this environment is the postgraduate system whereby the leading students apprentice themselves to their mentors and provide the fresh outlook and energies characteristic of inquiring young minds. Such graduate programs generally conclude with a doctoral dissertation, independently conducted, which in itself is an original contribution at the research frontier.
Universities make several contributions to military and civilian technologies.
Government agencies and private firms fund much university research to help solve technological problems and to get access to the best understanding that underlies such technologies. Federal funding at universities, measured in constant dollars, leveled off about 15 years ago, and thus recent growth in the system has been slight, making it more difficult to replace obsolete equipment and to undertake new, and more expensive, enterprises. Reduction in federal funds for the support of graduate students has exacerbated the problem. Economic considerations have led to falling numbers of engineering graduate students, leaving the country dependent on foreign nationals for a substantial fraction of its engineering faculty needs. Other problems involving the size and complexity of many research operations are also challenging and weakening the research-education system.