A NA LWT'ICA L C HEMI IST RV
EDITORIAL
March 1964,Vol. 36, No. 3
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Director of Publications, Applied Journals, A C S , Richard L. Kenyon Director of Business Operaticns, Applied Journals, A C S , Joseph H . Kuney Executive Assistant to the D Irector of Publications, Applied Journals, ACS, Rodney N. Hader Assistant to the Director 01' Publications for Editorial Deuelopment, Applied Journals, A C S , William Q. Hull Director of Editorial Reseamh, Applied Journals, A C S , Robert F. Gould Editor, LAWRENCE T. HALLICTT
EDITORIAL HEALIQUARTERS Washington, D. C. 20036 1155 Sixteenth St., N. W. Phone: 202-737-3337 Teletype WA 23 Associate Editor: G. Gladys Gordon Assistant Editors: Anne C8mrad, Arnold E. Levitt, Virginia E. Stewart Editorial Assistants: Patricia Banko, Josephine Pechan Editor:al Reference: Barbara A. Gallagher Production Staff-Washington Joseph Jacobs ( A r t Director) John V. Sinnett ( A r t ) Production Staff-Easton, Pz. 18043 20th and Northampton Sts. Associate Editor: Charlotte C. Sayre Assistant Editor: Elizabeth R. Hufe
REGIONAL EDITORIAL BUREAUS Eastern Manager: Walter S. Fedor (New York) N E W YORK, N. Y. 1001'7 733 Third Ave. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 19 LO3 1725 John F. Kennedy Blvd. PITTSBURGH, Pa. 15230 530 William Penn Place Midcontinent a n d W e s t e m Manager: Arthur Poulos (Chicago) CHICAGO, Ill. 60603 36 South Wahash Ave. CLEVELAND, Ohio 44114 1367 East Sixth St. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. 94104 57 Post St. LOS ANGELES. Calif. 90005 422 South Western Ave. HOUSTON, Tex. 77002 1121 Walker St. Washington Southeastern WASHINGTON, D. C. 201)36 1155 Sixteenth St., N. W. European FRANKFURT/MAIN, Weit Germany 32 Grosse Bockenheimerstraise LONDON, W. 1, England 77 South Audley St. Contributing Editor: R. H. Ivvliiller AdLisory Board: R. N. Adains, G. H. Ayres, J. E Barney 11, J. C . Giddings, R. F. Goddu, P. B. Hamiltcn, G. A. HarloN, F. W. McLafferty, M. W. Mallett, G. H . Morrison, J. D. Neuss, W. H . Reinmuth, I r i i n g Shain, J. K . Taylor, J. C. White Advertising Manapement R E I N H O L D PUBLISHING CORP. (for Branch Oflices, see page 165 A)
Too Much Scientific Research? OR A SCIEKTIST working in an academic atmosphere, there is only one Fanswer to this question-there can never be too much basic research -and we agree. The only problems are in finding good research men and money to support them. I n contrast, however, much research today must be slanted toward the profit motive and management must make such mundane decisions as to how much money it can afford for research and what fields of study will finally pay off in dividends. It is not uncommon for a company to find itself committed to unprofitable research and retrenchment is necessary. Such decisions can make the individual research worker very unhappy. But there are companies with well established products where basic research is not called for and where studies in distribution methods, packaging, quality control, and sales strategy may pay off handsomely. Analytical chemistry departments in industry contribute to both basic research and quality control. They may, however, unwittingly contribute to a n unbalanced research program by carrying out unnecessary analytical research and collection of data. It is extremely easy to build up a n analytical department that is too large but which is justified by the requests for analysis \vliich it receives. Such requests, on investigation, may prove to be entirely unnecessary. It is important, therefore, that analytical departments know the objectives of their company and the research which it has approved. With such understanding they can turn out more useful and meaningful results. They will gain stature if they initiate the proper scrcening of requests and work with management in setting up a program which will adequately service the company research and manufacturing problems.
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