Research and Civil Engineering Education: Fid-Bau Portal

Research and Civil Engineering Education

Newmark, Nathan M.

From a survey of research in civil engineering departments in colleges of the United States, it has been found that the level of support from all sources including the colleges themselves is, as of 1960, about $10,800,000 per year. This research program supports the full-time equivalent of nearly 500 professors and almost 700 graduate student assistants, corresponding to about 1400 students of the total number of 3600 graduate students enrolled in civil engineering. A concentration of graduate study exists at the institutions having the largest research programs. Nevertheless there is not sufficient support for research to permit as many students as need research experience to have such experience as part of their educational background. It is estimated that additional support to the extent of 3 to 4 million dollars per year is required immediately, and that as much as 14 million dollars more per year will be required during the 1960's. The recommendation is made that the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) seek means of finding additional funds for university research, and that such research be kept as free as possible from control or restrictions on publications in order that the students, the faculty, the Society, and the profession can benefit most from the effort.