But, according to research scientists at major universities throughout the United States, there are several additional factors that, while defying quantification, nevertheless `contribute to and reflect a rich and fertile research environment. If such measurable or observable conditions as adequate funding and properly outfitted labs are prerequisite to high achievement, they say, so are a number of these "soft" factors.
To what degree, for example, does a research university encourage creative exchange among scientific disciplines? Does a prestigious tradition help it woo top talent--graduate students as well as faculty--away from other institutions? And what about the physical setting of its campus: Is it in the heart of a big- city slum--or nestled into a peaceful small-town community? Is it isolated in the countryside, far from cultural centers--or is it just a cab ride away from museums and cafes?
For an academic institution to achieve and maintain enduring prominence as a ...
