title: Fostering and framing international social research on alcohol and other drugs: a tribute to Robin Room.
abstract: This commentary concentrates on three aspects of Robin Room's research history: the extent and scope of his research, his role as a builder of research milieus and his importance for the creation of research networks. It is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis, but rather illustrative. A supplementary table provides information on 24 international research projects that Robin Room led or where he played a significant role. In addition to looking at his scientific production history as reflected in databases, when preparing this essay the authors consulted 38 researchers who had worked or presently work with him in various projects, groups or in the research institutes where has held leadership positions. We posed questions pertaining to: major research issues over the past 50 years, the involvement of Robin Room in various projects, the ways in which these projects had contributed to social science or practice and Robin's contributions to the creation of research milieus.
authors.affiliation: Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giesbrecht
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosenqvist
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D012961:Sociology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Robin Room; alcohol; drugs; social research