A brief description of the functions of the radiocarbon dating laboratories and the research projects conducted there. The article presents some of the projects in abstract form while many projects are listed as a bibliography of publications. The projects include: low-level scintillation counting parameters; computerization of data handling and age reporting; selection of modern reference standards; dating of the Great Barrier Reef geochronology and geomorphology; and determination of quaternary sea-level changes. -- AATA