EDITORIAL
Growth in Numbers and Responsibility Chemists, great in number, may increase their attention to public affairs
embership in the American Chemical Society has passed 100,000 (C&EN, April 5, page 24). To ACS members the number has become familiar through anticipation. But it was not always so. Only 64 years ago, Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, then ACS President, predicted that the ACS would likely have 10,000 members by the time of its centennial in 1976. The prediction, ventured when ACS membership was less than 2000, seems to have been considered daring by some. Today, on the other hand, noted predictions tell us there will be a shortage of competent physical scientists, including chemists. Chemists are considerably more numerous than physical scientists of other disciplines, and current projections indicate that the balance will remain so. While medically oriented research is perhaps the most richly supported specific area of scientific work, it appears that we shall not have a greatly increased supply of medical practitioners in the future. According to U.S. Office of Education figures, somewhat more than 10,000 bachelor's degrees in chemistry will be granted in the year ending June 30, 1965; the number will increase to more than 14,500 by 1975. In the same period the number of chemistry Ph.D/s granted is expected to go from about 1260 to over 2000 (a doubling since 1955). In 1975 the number of Ph.D/s granted in all other physical sciences is expected to be just over 2000 (almost a tripling since
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1955). The number of M.D/s awarded is expected to be about 7500 in 1965 and is expected to increase to about 8000 in 1975. At the recent Detroit meeting, ACS President Charles C. Price declared that specific recommendations soon will be made to the Council (page 96) as to how the ACS might act more positively as a scientific and educational organization in matters of public policy affecting its fields of interest. It seems certain that the technical contributions of scientists and engineers will continue to have an increasing effect on our way of life. If technical people are to be more than the tools of others they should and must exert, also, an influence on public policy. There is growing recognition that strictly science-oriented education and practice are less than ideal training for dealing with public policy. But we are seeing that outstanding scientists can adapt and develop their abilities quite successfully to wrestle in the gray areas of public affairs. Development of such interests should be encouraged, for chemists and chemical engineers are certain to be called upon to assume greater responsibility in the affairs of U.S. society.
APRIL
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