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CHAPTER 2Developing and staffingthe research andtraining programThe scope of the rice research program to be developed by IRRI was firstoutlined by Harrar in his memorandum of October 1958 (see Appendix 1). Hehad clearly visualized a broad spectrum of research on rice. His listing ofresearch areas needing attention covered essentially all the activities laterundertaken by IRRI. The earlier mentioned Memorandum of Understanding,signed on 9 December 1959 by representatives of the Ford and RockefellerFoundations and the Government of the Philippines, presented the generalprogram of the Institute, emphasizing not only basic and applied research buta training program and a library and documentation service. It included, also,the need for distributing improved genetic lines and varieties to other researchcenters. Thus, IRRI’s mandate had been thought out in general terms beforeformal organization started.In developing the details of the research and training program, Wortmanand I used those earlier documents as our guide. In addition, we had manydiscussions with Harrar, Hill, Gant, Moseman, and Hendricks. Furthermore,the Program Committee of the Institute’s Board of Trustees had given seriousattention to IRRI’s research imperatives when it met in April 1960.With this background, Wortman and I felt reasonably confident about theresearch programs that should be undertaken and the kinds of scientists thatwould be required. Because I had traveled widely in Asia during the 5 yearsbefore IRRI’s formation and Wortman made several trips in 1960 and 1961through the rice-growing countries of Asia, we were well acquainted withagricultural scientists there. The Rockefeller Foundation, particularly, with itsprograms in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and India, had contacts with manyagriculturists. The Ford Foundation, too, was acquainted with agriculturalspecialists through its rural development programs. It was from such experienceand contacts as these that most candidates for the various positions werefound.From the outset, it was agreed that staff would be recruited from any of thefree countries of the world, but that because of Asia’s primacy in rice production,a special effort would be made to identify Asian scientists experienced in,or at least familiar with, rice research. A further principle that Wortman andI set was, in general, to employ promising young scientists still seeking to makea name for themselves, rather than more mature and renowned persons whomight tend to rest on their laurels. The idea was that in the course ofestablishing reputations through their research at IRRI, the younger scientistswould establish the reputation of the Institute as well. With few exceptions,
50 History of the International Rice Research Institutethat employment principle was carried out. All, except three, scientists of theoriginal group at IRRI in 1962-63 were in their thirties or late twenties.Each candidate was first interviewed in his own country, or where he wasposted at the time, and then, if mutual interest continued, was invited to IRRIto become acquainted with the working and living environment. If thedecision was to hire the candidate, an offer was made during his visit. He couldeither give an immediate answer or reply in writing later.Initially, all Americans on the staff were employed by the RockefellerFoundation and then assigned to the Institute. Although the salaries andperquisites of these employees were set by the foundation, their work programswere determined only by IRRI; professionally they were treated inexactly the same way as the non-Americans. At the start, about half of thesenior professional staff were Americans, but gradually the number of foundation-employedscientists decreased. As they accepted positions elsewhere,they were replaced either by Asians, or by Americans hired directly by theInstitute. Today, no permanent scientists at IRRI are employees of theRockefeller Foundation.When the organizational framework for the Institute was developed in1961-62, the IRRI administrators decided to create only eight departments:Varietal Improvement, Agronomy and Soils, Plant Protection, Plant Physiology,Chemistry, Agricultural Engineering, Statistics, and Agricultural Economics.In addition, there would be the nonresearch professional units consistingof Library and Documentation Center, Experimental Farm, Food andDormitory Services, Buildings and Grounds, and the administrative groupcomprising the director, the associate director, the executive officer, and thetreasurer. Although after a few years it was deemed advisable to createseparate departments for disciplines that originally had been combined withina department, the description that follows outlines the program objectives foreach of the original units — and of the disciplines within them.Because the early successes of IRRI are directly attributable to the performanceof its initial staff, the accounts given of the search for and hiring of thesenior staff to head the various operations are quite detailed for originalappointees and for any replacements or additions during the first 5 years ofIRRI’s research program.But because this is mainly a chronicle of IRRI’s beginning years — andbecause, too, of the necessary restrictions of space — scientists who joined IRRIfrom 1967 onward are mentioned with what might otherwise seem unduebrevity.Furthermore, space unfortunately does not permit a description of theoriginal junior scientific staff (the research assistants), nor of the many otherIRRI employees, the support staff, all of whom played an indispensable role ingetting the research and training program off to a running start. The policy setat the beginning was to hire one to three senior professionals with a Ph Ddegree, or its equivalent in experience, for each department and to employPhilippine college graduates with either BS or MS degrees to work with themas a team. This policy continues at IRRI today. Many of the research assistants
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An Adventurein Applied Science:A HI
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ContentsDedication viiAbout this pu
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About this publication . . .In 20 y
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xiname, and release varieties. Thus
Page 14 and 15: PrefaceThe International Rice Resea
Page 16 and 17: CHAPTER 1An international institute
Page 18 and 19: An international institute for rice
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Establishing administrative policie
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Chapter 4Early Researchand training
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Early research and training results
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CHAPTER 5Financing of IRRIThe purpo
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Financing of IRRI 149foreign assist
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156 History of the International Ri
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Creation of other international cen
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Creation of other international cen
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Aerial view of IRRI in1981.However,
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IRRI today 181neering Department: K
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IRRI today 183In spite of this high
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IRRI today 185turn, received geneti
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IRRI today 1871. Research to assist
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Appendices 189materials could readi
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Appendix 2OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENTINTER
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Appendices 193ate to concentrate on
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Appendices 195estimates for buildin
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Appendices 197(4) Development of pr
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Appendices 199was approved for the
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Appendices 201association, or perso
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Appendices 203b. To pass upon the b
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Appendices 205Article VIIMISCELLANE
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