新概念第四册18课问题求教新概念英语第四册的第18课中：In So far as any inquiry is a se

新概念第四册18课问题求教
新概念英语第四册的第18课中：
In So far as any inquiry is a secret one,it naturally limits all those engaged in carrying it out from effective contact with their fellow scientists either in other countries or in universities ,or even,often enough,in other departments of the same firm.
这句话中,1、inquiry能不能指“科学研究”,我查了字典,里头是讲“调查研究”
2、either