Database to list nation's scholars

For years, the best way to find experts in research fields was through word of mouth. But in yet another feat of modern technology, a computerized database will instantaneously allow users to find the credentials of well-known and not-so-well-known scholars of nearly 100 universities nationwide. Within the year, the new program, being coordinated by Best North America corporation, will list University faculty members alongside faculty from dozens of other high-profile research universities. From that program, a similar small-scale program is now in the works for University students and faculty to look up credentials and work interests. The University's system, which will list all 2100 faculty members, will also include research projects, papers that they have published, grants they have received, and their educational background. "[It] is an on-line [curriculum vitae]," said Stuart Watson, the assistant director for operations and coordinator of the database program. "It will include patents, a summary of current research, a list of awards received and educational degrees." For an annual fee of $25,000, companies that subscribe to the program can investigate research that faculty members are conducting, while universities can use the program to make themselves available to receive grants. University affiliates will also be able to take advantage of this aggregate listing program. "It will ultimately be made available to the University as a whole," Watson said. "The overall intent is to get the University on line." After Best has completed adding the University to its system, a copy of the University's data will be sent back to the University. It will then be linked to PENN-Net or a comparable system. "What Best will do is supply the data in tape form," Watson said. "It has not been determined how access will be given [to the University community]." Vice Provost for Research Barry Cooperman praised the program, describing it as giving a "thumbnail sketch" of each faculty member. "The program looks very good for us because we don't have a database [system]," Cooperman said. 95 universities are already on the system, including Brown and Cornell universities and Dartmouth College. The other universities in the Ivy League are considering or planning to participate in the programming as well. Listing professors will be free for the University, but adding professors after December will cost the University a "minimal fee," according to Best officials.

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