Chemical & Engineering
NEWS JULY 7, 1969
Dr. Max Tishler Chemistry's contributions
Dr. Milton Harris Complete analysis
ACS TO STUDY IMPACT OF CHEMISTRY The role of chemistry and chemists in industry and in the nation's economy will be investigated by an ACS task force committee in a two-year science policy study. Set in motion last week by a grant of $99,100 from the National Science Foundation and $50,000 provided by the Society, the study is the first undertaken to assess the impact of a single science on the economy as a whole. Named as task force committee cochairmen are Dr. Milton Harris, Chairman of the ACS Board of Directors, and Dr. Max Tishler, president of Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, N.J. The six- to 10-member committee will operate under the Society's Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs. Specific elements of the study will be dealt with by panels of experts from within and outside the chemical industry as well as the academic community. The task force committee expects that 80 to 100 scientists will be involved with these panels. An important aspect of the committee's work will be to study the role of industry in making the benefits of chemical science and technology broadly available to the American people, Dr. Harris points out. This aspect will be part of an analysis of the
complete "chemical system" in which the relative roles of industry, education, and government will be evaluated as to how they enhance or constrain the system's development. Task force cochairman Tishler says he's "very concerned" about this industry-university-government interface and he calls for more "healthy, mutual respect" within this "trinity." Dr. Tishler hopes that the task force study will become a counterpart to the Westheimer Report ("Chemistry: Opportunities and Needs") by emphasizing industry's contribution to chemistry and society. He cites the example of "the story that needs to be told to students today who are confused over chemistry's role in such problems as pollution and the use of DDT." What they need, he says, is a reminder of chemistry's contributions. Among the study's other objectives— which stem from concern over the lack of understanding of the role of chemistry and chemical engineering in the national economy—are those to: • Demonstrate how chemistry pervades the economy. • Show how industry uses chemistry. • Stimulate the flow of capable young people into chemistry and chemical engineering.
• Provide those who are managing chemists and chemical engineers with an understanding of their professional needs. • Assist government policy makers evaluate the needs and contributions of industry and education in decisions affected by chemistry—particularly in the area of technology-related social problems. One area where the task force committee will direct special attention is in the relationships of industrial chemistry and academic institutions. Here the task force will seek to develop meaningful understanding of the relationship of industry to education in terms of the present status and future prospects for mutual development. What the task force will examine will be: • The nature of the supply of trained manpower. • The impact of direct and indirect financial support of research and technological activities. • Cooperative research and educational programs. • The nature of the innovative process. • Mechanisms for alternative pathways by which science and technology can be used for development purposes. JULY 7, 1969 C&EN
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