New, Updated Guides to European and Medical Research Centers

Equally useful for scientists, administrators, conference organizers and other fraternities is the two-volume world directory of medical organizations and programs. Covering not only research centres but also bodies that finance biomedical science, the guide embraces about 9,000 laboratories, industrial and pharmaceutical firms, medical schools and academic departments, providing in each case key facts about personnel, annual expenditures and summaries of current interests. The Soviet Union does appear, though perplexingly its listing is restricted to four organizations—less even than appear under Portugal or Korea. Stylistically uniform with European Research Centres (and with Longman's reference works covering agricultural, electronics, engineering and other R&D institutions), the world directory is impressively up to date. Indeed, the only inaccuracies I have noted in either work are those resulting from very recent economies in research funding. Let us hope that this failing does not continue to hamper future editions of these invaluable compilations.