EDITORIAL
A balanced attitude as a goal We need advancement both in fundamental science and in its skillful use and practice
eaction appears to be setting in. The heat of public feeling for the support of pure science may be cooling. At least federal budgetary support is leveling off. Concern over too little focus of first-rank minds on applied research, engineering, and other more "practical" pursuits has mounted and at some points may be gaining predominant attention. President Johnson in recent weeks has made a statement that sounded as though he would be expecting more practical results from the National Institutes of Health. There is indication that the National Science Foundation will be taking more interest in applied research. There is some general feeling in the wind in Washington of a shift in favor of supporting work that yields more immediate concrete return to society. This could be constructive if it does not swing to the detriment of the continued strong advancement of fundamental knowledge. The extreme of a dominating sweep of a how-to-do-it movement could be damaging even in the short-term. However, if balance can be maintained so that we continue with strong interest in fundamental science while building bridges to the applied and constructively practical, then we are moving more rapidly toward something better. A good distribution of brains and motivation in all areas is needed. There is some evidence that motivation needs more attention. A survey by the National Opinion Research Center among the freshmen boys of the National Merit Scholars found that 60% expected to be research scientists or engineers. Four years later, only 26% of the graduating group had actually followed that inten-
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tion. Other reports tell of lack of interest in industry among young research scientists. Dr. John Gardner, now Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, wrote about a year ago (as president of the Carnegie Corp.) of the tendency in universities to want to train the technical experts who advise leaders or intellectuals who stand off and criticize leaders, but not to want to train leaders. The RUINA Committee studying the National Institutes of Health concluded that the single most crucial problem there is the scarcity of individuals in the biomedical area with the technical background, experience, and temperament needed to assume the responsibilities of program management. An interesting effort is now being launched at Michigan Technological University in Houghton where a "terminal master's degree" in chemistry and chemical engineering is being designed for superior students who would go into private industry. Also a group of industry leaders in New Jersey is working toward the establishment of an advanced institute for science and technology in that state which will encourage interaction between basic and applied research. If such institutions can attract and continue to motivate firstrate students interested in industry while giving them a good education on which to base the continuing education of a technical career, it will be a contribution to the balance we need.
JULY 18, 1966 C&EN 5
