In past FRL Biennial Reports we have mentioned the increase in issue-driven research by FRL scientists, as well as the challenges to funding of research that the FRL has faced during the past 10 years. Bath of these situations have contributed to an ever-increasing need to find new ways to conduct our research that will 1) make the final research products more valuable to Oregon's resources, industries, and citizens, and 2) maximize the return on each dollar spent and, where possible, increase the total funds available for FRL research.

One of the ways in which the FRL has addressed these situations is by increasing the amount of collaborative research that we do. Working with others helps to identify problems and issues that are significant for the state and the region, and it also helps to increase the effectiveness of the money spent and, in some cases, to make more funds available for focusing on these important concerns. All in all, true research collaboration generally leads to work that is more efficient, solutions that are more effective, and a shared feel-ing of “ownership” of the results that may extend beyond the FRL and the university to those who will use the results and gain from them.

Collaborative research comes in many Forms. Probably its simplest form is when two or more scientists decide to pool their talents and resources to address an issue or problem they consider to be impor-tant. A more formal collaboration might develop when an agency or industry actively seeks partners to expand its capability to effec-tively research a specific area that is critical to their operation(s).  And perhaps the most focused and structured research collaborations are those that result from the activities of a consortium or cooperative in which the membership jointly identifies and prioritizes researchable issues and, by pooling resources and ideas, commis-sions and finances studies to resolve those issues.

From the hundreds of ongoing FRL projects, we have selected 16 to illustrate various types of collaborative research. These 16 represent current work in each of the five general areas of FRL research concentration: forest regeneration; forest ecology, culture, and pro-ductivity; integrated protection of forests and watersheds; evaluation of forest uses, practices, and policies; and wood processing and product performance. Another basis for selecting these projects is that they illustrate the FRL’s philosophy of balancing basic and applied research. They also emphasize the geographic scope of the FRL’s efforts; these projects address statewide, regional, and global challenges and opportunities.

Finally, these 16 projects represent both work that has been con-ducted for decades and work that was initiated only recently; studies that are narrowly focused and studies that are very broad in scope; research that is restricted to one discipline and research that in-volves people from other OSU units as well as outside agencies and institutions; work that is conducted primarily in the field and work that is conducted entirely in an OSU laboratory; and research with limited scope of time and space and research that relates to a complete life cycle (from selection and breeding to products).

Together, these 16 project summaries illustrate the wide variety of issues and problems addressed by FRL research, and highlight the broad array of scientific talent, sophisticated equipment and facili-ties, and other resources that are required to solve the many com-plex problems confronting Oregon's forest resources and industries.