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liffaffilffieerliisi. WALTER J. MURPHY, Editor
PilSWS The N e w A q r i c u l f u r a l Research I n s t i t u t e Vv ASHINGTON is a place where many committees, organizations, and agencies are born, a_nd only infrequently does the birth of one of these excite our personal interest in a major way. Two weeks ago w e were present when the Agricultural Research Institute was formally established as an adjunct of the Agricultural Board of the ^National Research Council. W e must say w e are most enthusiastic about the potentialities of the new body. W e doubt that many readers are familiar with the Agricultural Board, its aims and purposes, and so a few words of description are very much in ore! er. The board was established in 1944 upon joint recommendation of t h e National Research Council's Division of Biology and Agriculture and the- Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities. Its formation was largely a result of the untiring efforts of "Eoy C Newton, vice president in charge of research of Swift and Co., dean of food technologists in this country, a n d a man who has spearheaded many forward-looking in overnents in the broad field of agriculture, h u m a n and anim al nutrition, and food processing. The Agricultural Board was conceived to embody scientific leadership in agricultural policies and practices. T h e degree of success realized from this leadership is measurable in terms of the freedom and independence which t h e membership of the board has for deliberation of the problems before it. Members of the board serve without compensation, but it has been clear from the beginning that in order to function effectively and maintain its maximum integrity, it should be relieved of the necessity of soliciting funds for its support. T h e n e w Agricultural Research Institute has been established to provide funds for the Agricultural Board and also— and this is of the greatest importance—to provide a suitable medium for exchange of information and viewpoints with the scientists of the board. The new ARI will bring together periodically those from industry, from government, from research laboratories, those who hravp a common bond of interest, namely, agriculture. Members and officers of the Agricultural Board are appointed b y the National Research Council. We want to emphasize that the board is not a government bureau or agency. Members of the Agricultural Research Institute are technical representatives of organizations who have applied and have been accepted for membership. There are two classes of .membership: Class A members include corporations engaged in the production, processing, and/or marketing of agricultural products; also those engaged in the manufacture of equipment, materials, or supplies used in the production, processing, transportation, or marketing o £ agricultural products; and corporations or associations engaged in scientific or economic research on projects related t o agriculture. Class A dues are $300 a year. Class B membership, broad 1 y speaking, will be open to state and federal agencies, academic institutions, scientific societies, and other organizations or individuals who have a direct interest in agriculture. Class B members will be
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nominated by NRC and will be elected by t h e governing board of the institute. Class B members will pay no dues. Roy C . Newton will serve as ARI's first president, Paul D . V. Manning of International Minerals and Chemical, is vice president, and B. S. Clark of American Can will serve as secretary. Dr. Newton has been ably assisted by an organizing committee of outstanding leaders in the field of agriculture. We were greatly inspired b y what w e heard at t h e daylong organization meeting of ARI held in the board room of NRC. T h e new institute can and undoubtedly will provide adequate funds for t h e effective functioning of the Agricultural Board. Over 3 0 large, medium, and small corporations are Class A members, and some 100 to 150 more are needed to assure the financial success of the institute. The new organizations also will provide information, suggest pertinent problems, and will keep the Agricultural Board alert to the multitude of forces that determine the course of development of agricultural industry. Finally, the new institute will serve as a practical medium for the dissemination among its members of the judgments and resultant implications and applications of the board's activities. Who will deny that the greatest problem facing the world today is that of providing sufficient food to supply adequate diets for an ever-increasing population? W e all realize that among the most effective ways of meeting the challenge of Communism are adequate diets and proper raiment for millions and millions in other parts of the world. Those w h o will contribute much to this challenge are those who either were physically present at the ARI organization meeting, or were represented there. Here is an organization that richly deserves enthusiastic support from science and industry. W e pledge that the AMERICAN C H E M I C A L SOCIETY'S n e w jour-
nal, Agricultural and Food Chemistry, will do all it can to further the objectives of both the Agricultural Board of N R C and the Agricultural Research Institute.
The Parsons A w a r d V^TIARLFS Lathrop Parsons, far more than any other one individual, is responsible for the growth in size, influence, and prestige of the AMERICAN: C H E M I C A L SOCIETY.
When Dr. Parsons became secretary in 1907. the Society's membership was small, its finances were* weak, and its future w a s uncertain. When h e laid down the duties of his office 8 9 years 'ater, the Society was established securely as one of the largest and most powerful scientific and professional bodies in the world, certainly the largest organization of chemists and chemical engineers. Dr. Parsons' greatest single contribution, of course, was his serviee to the ACS. but on numerous oeeasions he performed outstanding public services for this country. It is therefore most fitting that the Board of Directors of the Society in establishing the Parsons Award has emphasized this particular part of Dr. Parsons' work. Professional chemists and engineers everywhere rejoice in the action of the board taken at the recent meeting at Atlantic City. Many will b e present in Washington on Saturday evening. Dee. (\ when at a dinner sponsored by the Board, the first Parsons Award most appropriately will b e bestowed on our beloved Dr. Parsons.
1952
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