An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

xvisome readers. Those, however, who were involved in IRRI’s early activitiesand those who have served or now serve as trustees or staff members of thevarious international agricultural research centers, including IRRI, I hope willfind the story informative and interesting.In describing the early results of IRRI’s research and training program(Chapter 4), I set the cutoff date as 1967 because by that time, IR8 and IR5 hadbeen named and widely distributed and the Institute’s research strategy hadbecome well established.Chapter 7, entitled IRRI Today, is not, of course, early history. Nevertheless,because the Institute has achieved so much during the past decade, it seemedappropriate that the book contain an account of selected major researchadvances and of the significant changes in personnel, physical plant, andfinancial support that took place after I retired and Dr. Nyle C. Brady becameIRRI’s leader.I am indebted to Dr. Harrar for providing from the archives of theRockefeller Foundation material pertaining to the development of the conceptof IRRI and to the early negotiations with the Ford Foundation that resulted inthe joint project of establishing the Institute.Dr. Hill, in 1979, spent considerable time at IRRI assembling facts anddocuments pertaining to the Institute’s establishment. He generously madethat material available to me, as well as a careful account he had prepared ofthe evolution of the Ford Foundation decision to become involved in theformation of IRRI.I am grateful to the late Dr. Sterling Wortman for giving me a detailedaccount of the series of Bellagio meetings that resulted in the formation of theConsultative Group on International Agricultural Research.I am especially beholden to Dr. Brady, the director general of IRRI when thisbook was being prepared, for extending to me the privilege of writing thischronicle and for agreeing to issue it as an Institute publication.Those at IRRI who have been most intimately involved in the preparationof the manuscript naturally are members of the Office of Information Services;namely, Dr. Thomas R. Hargrove, head of the department, Mr. William H.Smith, who sent me much background material from IRRI’s files, and Mr.Walter G. Rockwood, who capably edited the entire manuscript and in theprocess made invaluable suggestions for its improvement.Dr. Dennis J. Greenland, deputy director general of IRRI, obligingly read thelast chapter of the manuscript — IRRI Today — and made helpful suggestionsfor its improvement.I am deeply indebted to my wife, Muriel (Sunny) Boyd Chandler, for herhelpful criticism and suggestions with respect to the contents of the book, forundertaking the preliminary editing, and for typing the first draft of themanuscript. Her encouragement and-assistance were substantial assets in thisundertaking.Templeton, MassachusettsRobert F. Chandler, Jr.