J U N E 1, 1927
Vol. 19, No. 0
The Privy Council Report HE Coiiiiiiittee of tlie Privy Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Great Britain has recently issued its eleventh report, which contains much food for thought. We h a m examined with interest the summaries of the work carried on by some tvieiit y-six trade associations, the formation of which has been encouraged by t,he Brilisli Government for the prosecution of research. Of these, twenty-two h a w been in existence for more than five years, two have terminated their existence, while a third has temporarily suspended operations. Some of the activities of the British Council could be duplicated in o u r on-n country wit'h niuch advantage; for example, a "survey of the state of scientific- and industrial research in tlie country in order t o afford an opinion as to how far its derelopment could be further assisted." The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research finds some of the greatest opportunities, and indeed the largest demand a t present, for trained men t o be in the borderlands between chemistry and agriculture, chemistry and botany, chemistry : ~ n dphysics, and other such subjects. Reference is also imide to the proper relationships between government and industry in the prosecution of research. Hcrc n-e find it, s t a t d that "the limits (speaking of nioney grants) i i i m t be c1ict:itcd not only by the distinction of the iyorlier aiitl the iiatiirc of tlie m r k but aldo hv the iuidehirability of wing public fundi: to provide would more p r ~ p e d ycollie from other sourc tlic ('oiiiicil, wliieh l i n b Ijeeli gil-en .;onie large funds for dislxirsi,tiiiwt i i i ,sll])lJ(JI'l ( i f sciiJritific work, Iia.: S t l l l J d read\- to r ~ w a ~ * l i iei is iiciv ficltls of knowledge, particul:irly tliwc? whicli a1qie:ir to IJCof potential benefit t o industry, function is to enit clearly h1iei-w that thci Gciver~i~iie~it's cour:ige research ill iic~gic~ctcd fields, occasiolially to take t h e lead iii thew new resc:irrh~~.,h i t always to be ,careful that the Chveriinieiit dois licit i1ntlc~rtnke restwcli ~vliicli CHI^ better be done by the intlustrie.; themselves. "The main ~~ro1111~1ii with wliicli :IW faced is lion- to eiicoiirage ltlitl assist tlic iiioveiiieiit fur i i d w t r i d r e m ~ r c l ixitho1lt takiiig over fuiictions which are best carried out 11y intiii>try itself.*** A large portion of tlic TT.o~E;of a goi-ernnient wily bc tlirfctetl toivnrd 1 to help itself." At tht. S:IIIIH tinie it must be recognized that, probleins of i;ucIi n-ide irithere :ire certaiii typcs i~i'rt~searc~li tcrest or of aiicli i i i i p ~ ~ r t : tu i n ~tlie n-elfare of tlie state that they caliiiot be left wlic~llyto private initiative. Agaiii n-e fiiitl the Council clear ill the opiiiion that piirc: aiid applied re.-earcli caiiiiot be promoted as it should bo iuitil public opinion ih fully arou>ed to its iiecessif.y, a n :~rgunieiit that has IJeeli used with justification throughout the derelopment of the -4. C. S.S e w Service. .Iiiother point of mutual intere5t ie the irisktence that industry build 1113 a reserve of hcieiitific hion-ledge in the creation of which the expenditure of stockliolders' money is amply justified, mid look upon iiitlustriul wbearcli "iiot a': a cure for but as a prei-eiition of baiikruptcy ." ~
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One other ret'ei~~~ice. and perliaps one of the iiiost iiiiliort:int, is to t,he ruck i i p ~ i iwhich several prograins of tradc earch havc groutided--nRmely, the applindustrg of tlie results of industrial research. It i-: not difficult, as the report points out! to prepare rqmrts of research results, hiit to make surf that the iiienibers I J f the association apply these. results a i d tliu!: dirertly I~rncf~t, from t'lie work they support is quite another iiiattcr. Ais soon as the time conies n-lien they think that tlic return is not adequate for their espendit'ure. there is either a curtailment of funds or internal di rision that may e w i i cause the ~ ruqieiisiori of a5wciation nork. The remedy W I J L I ~se(:ni to he the creatioii of an educational section and of R stroiig utilization section in any trade association research organization and perhaps ewii in the scientific groups of o m larger industries. =1fter all, qcieiice in industry ii: a iconiparatively remit innovation. ?\lore thought is being gii-en to it, than at aiiy other period, aiicl n-c nixy confidently expect eveii the major probiems to be rednced to their conipoiient~parts, which r i i i be solved one liy oile.
Table d'Hote l I I < S C offering \riclc LI fied tastes of c1i(miihtG i- iii 1) tute of Chemistry of the -11
:i c.1111i
LhfEITIC.lX
to Iiiwt tlic tli\.orsiatioii for tlic IiistiCHEhfIC.lL SOCIETY.
I+eliininary :iiiiioiiiiceiiieiiti ha\-e brcii iiiacle viitl lJ(J(iklets, filled Tvitli detail, are a\.ailable to tliow ~ d i owill write for them. Tlic Institiite is not to lie c~oiii'iiscdwitli ally otliw clieniical activity i n this coiiiitry. It is i i i i i q i i e . I t i: ( I t s signed for a special purpose, aiid \?-e I~rt~tliet~ tlixt tliosic tvlio procrastinate i i i a y find thciiiselT-es tlcqniwc1 of one ( i f tlic ))est opportuIiitie> which has I ) t w i affortleil .hiicric:iti cliciiiids. If y i i i ~:ire ititelit U~JUII vmrkitig ~ ~ iiiiniiti!, r ytlie ~irograiii i)I' the Iiistitute \rill affortl ~ i ~ ) j x ~ r t i ~for t i i t ythe utilizatioii I J ~your energy. The Scn-b Etlitioiis of ?\\lay 10 :iiid 20 iilclicated a niimlwr I J ~courscx which niay be attentlecl :it will 11)- tliore M - ~ ( J tlwirc i i c ) cdlege credit for their sitminer's ~ r k . In thi, n-:iy R yariety of topics, pr cialistr, c:tn lie licm-d. The morning iiiitil I 1 o'clirk c:tti I J C ~ thus i~cc~ugietl, n-liilc cl;~cliclay a t that hour a gciieral coliicwnce, for nhicli soiiio of the topics have been :innoiuic.ctl, will take plxco. Herc rccogiiized authorities will miii 111) for yoii the Imseiit ,-tatiis of the science in li particular topic., followd by g t w ~ a ldiscw&n. AAt the clo.je ui' tlic coiiference intcwstecl groiips will ui~clou~~teclly coritinue thr: dibcws~ion in the institute dining 1i:iIls. Thereafter you may gather under the trees, at golf, or :rtteiitl other courses. The laboratories will be open and every caliance giveii for work. In the early erening scielltific niotion pictures and later additional lectures aiid siriiilar events for iiistructioii or entertainment. will be offered. S o doubt in iilany cases groups will continue discussioiis ~~ailcl 50 o i l 1:ir into the night ."
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IiVD UST’RIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMIST’&Y
Are you less ambitious? Then look over the program and take what suits you, just as you choose from any table d’hote menu. There are the courses-many of them-the daily conferences, the contacts with those mho share your interests, the motion pictures, the evening lectures. Certainly a wide xariety! Perhaps you are not in the mood for anything bordering on work. I n t h a t case not only can you do as you pleaae, scientifically speaking, but you will find a t State College the real recreation which mountains, streams, highways, and sports afford, with the opportunity always a t hand to get just t h a t degree of mental exercise you may desire, especially after a fern days of Simon-pure loafing have passed. And all this a t a cost which those who have seen the schedule of fees and living expenses agree is most reasonable! Announcements relative to speakers, lecturers, and teachers clearly indicate the desirability of being a t State College are urged to reach a defor a t least a part of July. POU cision and to obtain full details from the several issues of the Xews Edition or direct from A. JIT.Kenney, Institute of Chemistry of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY,State Colso important to lege, Pa. This is an event of the SOCIETY you as a n individual that you cannot afford to disregard it in making your summer plans.
Department Chairmen IS inevitable that the growth of appreciation of science ItheTonranks the part of industrial organizations should decimate of college and university professors, not leaving untouched department heads and chairmen. Much has been said regarding this policy, believed by many t o be shortsighted, but while it should be clear t h a t a shortage may soon develop in the supply of adequately trained scientific men if the machinery for their development becomes crippled, industry generally is inclined to let the future care for itself and to obtain for the direction of its own research men who have demonstrated leadership in the scientific field. We sometimes tliiiik the freedom from some typev of executive work is a part of the appeal which the industrial laboratory makes t o the academic man, though a department head doubtless looks upon it as a different sort of administrative job, the details of which are more attractive. Certainly the farsighted industries offer a freedom for scientific work quite as much unhampered as that which the academic laboratory affords. Our schools are, therefore, faced with a new competition in mhich changing conditions have lost to them some of their former advantages. Our colleges and universities should adopt a new policy if they are to attract and hold the professors necessary to train in America men satisfactory for the research laboratories of academic and industrial life. We see frequent examples of one major disadvantage in present policies. This is the promotion of a successful teacher or director of research t o an executive position for which he may not be temperamentally fit and which really does not attract him, so far as its duties and opportunities are concerned. Many a good scientist has been spoiled to make a poor executire. The obvious way out of this difficulty is to recognize a t once that there is a place in any great development for an executive head, call hini what you \Till, who does not necessarily have to be the greatest man in his specialty. Of course he must have a broad sympathy with the science and some actual experience in it, but if he is the right sort of man he will not liezitatc to secure for the department the best available teachers and directors of research, even if all of them rank far above him in scholastic standing and
Vol. 19, No. 6
perhaps in monetary reinuiieration a> well. Such an executive would work for the advancement of these men according to their results. He would not disturb them in the work of their choice, but would see that everything possible was done to make the productive men more productive and to eliminate quickly the non-producers. Such an executive would also relieve those successful in teaching research of multitudinous committee mectings, the details concerning purchases, and a host of other activities which now serve merely to divert them from their main purpose. Such an arrangement might appear as an addition to overhead, but it is the kind of overhead that becomes a good investment through releasing productive men from non-productive activities. Another factor worthy of serious consideration is the precedent that has become established of considering members of the faculty as appointed for life after they have been promoted to a given rank, without regard to their productivity or their effort t o remain abreast of the times. Promotion is slow but in most institutions it is certain, granted only good behavior and reasonable activity, and some men are passed along from grade to grade until they have a life position from which they cannot be budged except for grave misdemeanors. I n consequence, we find here and there a faculty so loaded down with deadwood t h a t its progress can be measured only in terms of geologic time, and science suffers as a result. Several suggestions have been niade for the correction of this situation. One is the adoption of the foreign plan, whereby professors are paid a small salary by the institution, deriving the remainder of their income from fees paid by their students who are given considerable leeway in choosing their courses. It is said that this plan is satisfactory to the successful leader of students, and soon indicates to the unsuccessful and unpopular man the desirability of seeking another location. KOdoubt there are other ways out, but it is high time that some practical solution should be developed and put into operation. All that has been written and said concerning the need for the support of pure science research can be heartily cndorsed, but unless great care is taken we shall find ourselves without an adequate scientific staff when the research funds become available.
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Surprises in September
T HAS been a matter of general regret t h a t recent expo-
sitions of the chemical industries, while quite complete as regards equipment, have not displayed the actual products of the chemical industry, and particularly of chemicals, to the extent which all would have desired. We are glad to note that chemical products are t o have a prominent place in the Eleventh Exposition, which opens September 26. The present list of exhibitors includes nearly fifty-a number are of foreign origin-which can be classified as chemical. The nature of these exhibits cannot be disclosed, but surprises are certain and it is hoped t h a t many of them will be presented by the American chemical manufacturers. Almost a new generation has made its appearance in the chemical industry since chemicals and chemical compounds were featured a t the exposition. Manufacturers who have felt that all potential customers had been reached in former shows must now consider this new audience, which has come from the educational institutions and found its place in industry, as purchasers and users of equipment and materials. The coincidence of a large number of new exhibits with visits by many mho have but recently entered the chemical industry should make the Eleventh Exposition a long remembered event.
