EDITORIAL
A significant tribute Recognition and respect for common goals among the sciences is highly desirable
he American Pharmaceutical Association Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences has established the Kolthoff Gold Medal Award in Analytical Chemistry. The first presentation was made Nov. 26 to Dr. I. M. Kolthoff, emeritus professor of the University of Minnesota. This is indeed a fine tribute to an outstanding scientist and teacher whose early training was in pharmaceutical chemistry. He went on to achieve leadership in the introduction of fundamental physical and chemical principles as bases for analysis and to establish analytical chemistry as a research discipline. In addition, this award is a tribute to the dependence of sciences upon each other and to their respect for each other. Such a move deserves applause as the kind of step that helps move the sciences and scientists of various disciplines to work in closer concert and to present themselves as interested in common constructive goals. Such an image has been widespread for generations and it has helped create the respect in which science has been held. However, under the pressures of influences that have become strong during the past quarter century some changes have begun to appear. Perhaps the greatest influence for change has been the manner of financing scientific research and, along with it, the politics involved. This has worked well for the growth of science and the development of technology—not only to the direct benefit of the economy but to building the politically important position of scientific leadership for the United States. Now the atmosphere is changing for economic reasons and many scientific institutions are facing tough financial problems. Attitudes of competition, internal politics, closed establishments, and various schisms
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are likely to become more obvious as the fight for financial support becomes more difficult. Men of politics are especially sensitive to such an atmosphere. Already one finds members of Congress increasingly convinced of the self-promoting nature of some of the pleas for support of science. Such an attitude is unfortunate. The attitudes that will best move science and technology forward will also keep the internecine political interests subdued to aid total advancement of the scientific front. There is reason for concern that a change may be taking place in Congress regarding the support of scientific research. Some politicians may even see chances for political gain through criticism of the way money is being spent to support scientific research, using carefully selected examples. The outlook for the immediate short term is uncomfortable, but should that harden into anti-intellectualism or an attitude of doubt about the value of scientific research it would be extremely unfortunate not only for science and scientists but for the country as a whole. It is most important that the various disciplines of science as well as categories such as "basic" or "applied" scientists or other semiexclusive groups look to the total effort rather than to saving the maximum they can for their own interests. The alternative is certain damage to the image of constructive idealism that must characterize science.
DEC. 4, 1967 C&EN 5
