July, 1919
T H E JOUR-VAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
purpose of this meeting was to determine whether the scientific and technical workers in the federal employ wish to organize, and if so, what sort of organization they desire. Three plans were submitted which were as follows: Plan No. I , To work through existing scientific organizations; Plan No. 2, To form an independent organization of employees doing scientific or technical work; Plan No. 3, To form a scientific or technical branch of the Federal Employees’ Union. The auditorium of the Museum was well filled. Dr. Rodney H. True, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, presided. After a rather full discussion of the merits of the several plans submitted, it was finally decided by a vote of 185 to 132 to adopt Plan No. 3 . The determining factor in this action seemed to be the practical one of adopting the plan most likely to yield the results desired. The temporary committee appointed a t the meeting of May 8, with Dr. True as chairman, has been actively a t work on drawing up plans for the permanent organization. The point of view of the organizers is as broad as can be desired by those most independently inclined. Their purpose is purely a constructive one, being directed by the facts that properly conducted scientific research has t o have sufficient appropriations to insure satisfactory progress, and that affiliating with numerous and well-organized bodies which are in close touch with voters enables scientific workers to approach the appropriating powers (congressmen) througfi their most powerful argument, namely, their constituency. Activities will also be directed to securing for us greater freedom and improved status, reasonable salaries, effective cooperation, and better public recognition of the aims and purposes of research. Aside from these matters of direct and vital necessity are those broader questions of presenting scientific and technological ideals before the public by other means than through the exigencies of warfare.
THE BLOEDE AND THE HOFFMANN SCHOLARSHIPS OF THE CHEMISTS’ CLUB The announcement is made by the Scholarships Committee of the Chemists’ Club of New York, that the Bloede and the Hoffmann Scholarships will be awarded for the academic year 1g19-1gzo. These scholarships were founded by Dr. Victor G. Bloede, of Baltimore, and Mr. Wm. F. Hoffmann, of Newark, with the object of giving financial assistance to deserving young men, to obtain an education in the field of industrial or chemical engineering. These scholarships will be open to properly qualified applicants without restriction as to residence, and may be effective at any institution in the United States, which may be designated or approved by the Scholarships Committee. Applicants must, as a minimum qualification, have completed a satisfactory high school training involving substantial work in elementary chemistry, physics, and mathematics, and present a certificate showing that they have passed the entrance examination requirements of the College Entrance Examination Board or its equivalent. Preference will be given to young men who have supplemented these minimum qualifications with additional academic work, especially in subjects which will form a suitable groundwork for the more advanced study of applied chemistry and chemical engineering. All applications should be in the hands of the Scholarships Committee of the Chemists’ Club, 52 East 41st Street, New York City, on or before July IS, 1919.
TECHNOLOGICAL FELLOWSHIPS IN SWEDEN The American-Scandinavian Foundation announces that ten fellowships have been established, of the value of $1,000 per year each, to be awarded technically trained young men, between twenty and thirty years of age, who will study in technical
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institutions in Sweden. The subjects are those in which Sweden offers unusual advantages: four fellowships in physics and chemistry, two in hydroelectric engineering, two in metallurgy, and two in forestry and lumbering. Further information and application’ forms may be obtained from the Secretary of the Foundation, Henry Goddard Leach, 25 West 45th Street, New York City.
A GRANT FOR RESEARCH The American Pharmaceutical Association has available a sum amounting to about $240 which will be expended during 1919-1920 for encouragement of research. This amount, either in full or in fractions, will be awarded in such manner as will, in the judgment of the A. Ph. A. Research Committee, produce the greatest good to American pharmaceutical research. Investigators desiring financial aid in their work will communicate, before August I , 1919, with H. V. Amy, chairman A. Ph. A. Research Committee, 155 West 68th Street, New York City, giving their past record and outlining the particular line of work for which the grant is desired. The committee will give each application its careful attention and will make recommendations to the American PharmaceuticalAssociation a t its meeting in New York, August 25 to 29, 1919, when the award or awards will be made.
MOTION PICTURES IN THE TRAINING OF THE CHEMIST Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. The results of the correspondence of the chairman of the committee of the Society on the Relation of Industries and Universities with the chief chemists of the leading commercial organizations of the United States1 show such a startling unanimity of opinion regarding the inability of the student to apply his knowledge t o the commercial phases of chemistry, that a statement of a method by which it is believed this deficiency in the training of the chemist will be overcome seems opportune a t this time. To quote Dr. Ellery, “Every practical working chemist knows that educational institutions can give only to a very limited extent practice i n actual chemical processes that are commercial. Most laboratories in our educational institutions cannot equip themselves with what might be called industrial chemical apparatus, and even if they could, i t is to be questioned whether the result of the use of such apparatus in a school laboratory would give the practical ideas which employers want * * * * every teacher realizes the deficiency and deplores it all the more because he knows that he is quite unable t o correct it.” But is he unable to correct it? Has he forgotten the educational value of motion pictures? Can it not be seen that the adequate and logical presentation of our chemical industries through the medium of the motion picture would be of inestimable value to the educator as well as the manufacturer. This is not a new idea. It is not an experiment, for many of our leading manufacturers have already taken films for the education of their own employees. Can they not go a step further and educate their future employees by the same method? It is proposed by the committee that an effort be made to consult with the industries that may be located within convenient reach of the educational institutions, in order to persuade the managers of the industries and the authorities of the schools to enter into an arrangement by which chemistry students may get actual industrial experience during their years of training. But what of our institutions which are not so conveniently located? Are they to be entirely neglected? Our schools are not and cannot be situated near industrial centers and even 1
THISJOURNAL, 11 (1919), 375.
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in the case of those so fortunately situated it is not always the wish of the student to specialize in any particular industry during his period of training, and it is admittedly poor educational practice to have him do so. Factory inspection trips form a part of the curriculum of some of our larger institutions. These are helpful as far as they go, but it is evident that they must be hurried and superficial a t best. Very often the student is led through in a desultory manner and the entire continuity of the particular process viewed is lost, with the inevitable result-confusion. He gets a somewhat hazy idea of the magnitude of the process but the details are lost and he has no means of retracing his steps to view them again, so that even this method is open to considerable criticism and also it is adaptable only to the privileged few, those who are conveniently situated. Many manufacturers are unwilling to grant this privilege, for the reasons that the running of their plants is disorganized on the days these visits take place and they do not want the responsibility for any accident that may happen to a careless visitor. In a large number of cases these privileges have actually been withdrawn. It seems, then, that the logical solution of this problem lies in the motion picture. If the student cannot go to the plant, bring the plant to the student. It is within the reach of all and for the use of all. The smaller school will be benefited as well as the larger one. There will be no privileged few. The industries of California will be shown to Maine and those of Maine to California. The entire scope of the chemical industry will then be shown. There need be no specialization on the part of the student during his course of training. There will be no lost motion, no hurried steps, or superficial observation. The student can study the processes a t his leisure and in direct conjunction with his theoretical work. The manufacturer need be troubled only once and then by one person only instead of a group, and in place of advertising his wares to a limited few he has his products shown throughout the country to those who are most vitally interested in seeing and using them. At the same time he is educating his future employees and is directly scrving and helping to build up the entire chemical industry, which we know has now become a permanent institution in this country, unfettered by any German myth. Now what essentials must the film possess in order to be of value in a technical institution? The films must be specially prepared for the purpose, and with a full recognition of educational requirements. They must comply with the fundamental requirements that, where industrial operations are shown, the whole of the process shall be displayed in a manner that will make clear to the student the exact nature of the technical operation. The pictures must be supplemented by a technical description given by a person expert in the subject that is being illustrated. They must be shown under conditions that will allow of the film being stopped when required, so that where the subject calls for a fuller explanation this can be given. The view must have a serious scientific or technical interest. A film which has been prepared solely to entertain or amuse would be quite unsuitable for use in a technical institution. How may these requirements be met? How may these essentials be fulfilled in every detail? Realizing the importance of the situation and sensing the profound duty which lies before it, the Community Motion Picture Bureau, the largest company in America dealing exclusively with educational motion pictures, is now proceeding to fulfil the necessary requirements. I t has on iti staff men who are particularly expert in each field of endeavor, educational and industrial. This makes the proper planning, producing, and presentation of each picture an assured fact. No picture will be considered complete until it has received the unqualified
Vol.
11,
No. 7
approval of the representative of each industry shown, thereby guaranteeing an accurate, logical, and truthful portrayal of that industry in every respect. I n addition to the regular titles each picture will be accompanied by a booklet containing a short description or scenario explaining the processes chemically and mechanically, so that the educator may thoroughly familiarize himself with the subject that is to be viewed. That the exact nature of the technical operations may be adequately shown, all important features of the process and such views as do not permit of direct photography will be presented diagrammatically, that is, by means of animated drawings. It can readily be seen how important this feature is t o the student. He will be able to see what transpires inside of the vessel as well as outside, and the exact operation of any particular apparatus or mechanism can be shown in principle as well as in detail. There can be no doubt regarding the immense advantage of this method of presentation over factory inspection trips or the casual perusal of trade catalogues and blueprints. The machine works before one‘s eyes and one sees why and how i t works. There are projection machines now available which meet all the necessary requirements for the schools and lecture tables. The film can be stopped, making each individual picture a lantern slide, while the instructor explains any point that may appear to be hazy to the student, and if for any reason a point has been missed by the student, the machine can be ,automatically reversed and any part of the film run over again. The cost of these machines is easily within reach of even the smallest of schools. Thus all the conditions have been met and it only remains for the manufacturer to do his part. What greater service can he perform for the advancement of the chemical industry in America than this one, and a t the same time derive that type of advertising which is of greatest advantage to himself? But, it has been asked, “What of the manufacturer with the cecret process? Will he permit that to be shown?” Many of the so-called “secrets” are not secrets a t all. They are secrets merely in the imagination. And those that are truly considered secrets or “stocks in trade” usuzlly consist of minor operating details, the showing of which could very easily be omitted without destroying the fundamental ideas or the continuity of the process. There can be no disclosures of plant secrets for, as stated before, each picture and also the scenario is to be approved by the manufacturer himself before it is released t o the outside world. The Bureau is establishing a complete library of motion pictures embodying all of the fundamental chemical industries of America and will distribute them in such a way that they may be available to every school in the country according to its individual requirements. With the aid of the industries a comprehensive library will be completed by next fall for the opening session of the schools. That this project is a sound one, and one that-will supply a crying need, was manifested by the universal acclaim with which it was received by both educators and industrial managers a t the recent Victory Meeting of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETYa t Buffalo, The chemical industry of America must remain a permanent institution, but its permanence is entirely dependent upon the proper education of its chemists. The success of American enterprise is due to its superior educational methods. Shall we not be superior in motion picture education also? ARTHUR C. NEISH Associate Professor of Chemistry, Columbia University OSCARBYRON Chemical Engineer, Columbia ’14 46 WEST 24113 STREET N E W Y O R K CITY
May 2 , 1919
