Levin S A
Ecol Appl. 1992 May;2(2):103-106. doi: 10.2307/1941764.
When pressing national environmental problems must be solved, and serve as the justification for large infusions of public funds, mechanisms must be found to assure that the requisite research and assessment are performed. Large, managed programs seem to offer a way to direct energies in the needed directions, but individual creativity and intellectual curiosity must also be fostered through investigator-initiated studies. Research results cannot be achieved to meet imposed deadlines, and assessment in the face of uncertainty must be given due attention. This paper introduces five subsequent papers, four of which present perspectives on the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program, as a model for coordinated research and assessment programs, and one that presents plans for a national and international research effort on biodiversity.
当必须解决紧迫的国家环境问题，并以此作为大量注入公共资金的理由时，就必须找到确保进行必要研究和评估的机制。大型管理项目似乎提供了一种将精力引导至所需方向的途径，但也必须通过研究人员发起的研究来培养个人创造力和求知欲。研究结果无法在规定期限内完成，面对不确定性时的评估也必须得到应有的重视。本文介绍了随后的五篇论文，其中四篇阐述了对国家酸性降水评估计划的看法，该计划是协调研究和评估项目的一个范例，另一篇则介绍了一项关于生物多样性的国内和国际研究工作的计划。
