Agricultural Biotechnology, Academic Capitalism, and the Two Cultures of Science

William B Lacy , Leland L

Abstract

In recent years partnerships between U.S. universities and industries have become generally more varied, wider in scope, more aggressive and experimental and higher in public visibility. In addition, public and private interests have advocated for government policies and laws to globally promote the commercialization of university science. This paper examines the persistence or convergence of the two cultures of science and the implications of this commercialization for university-industry relationships in agriculture biotechnology. The perceptions and values of over 200 U.S. University and industry scientists, managers and administrators who participate in or oversee research collaborations in agricultural biotechnology were analyzed. The findings revealed that the participants in these research relationships continue to perceive very distinct cultures of science and identify a wide range of concerns and disadvantages of these partnerships. Several actions are discussed to ensure that the two cultures serve complementary roles and that they maximize the public benefits from these increasing collaborations