EDITORIAL
How Much for Professional Status? Public standing is not gained in a totally objective atmosphere
he members of the American Chemical Society, having been sampled and surveyed by social scientists (page 78), are reported believing their status with public and employers lower than it ought to be. We are told that about one fourth of the members think professional status is a serious problem. It is not unusual to want appreciation and status; even the chickens have their pecking order. The embers of desire for recognition in many men lie smoldering under the ashes of selfdoubts or failure. Accomplishment is the draft that revives the flame. But the public is massive and refractory. It is not the nature of the public to take great interest in those who do not obviously show great personal—as opposed to objective—interest in it. The individual who gains the demonstrated admiration of his community must be felt by his fellows in that community to be interested in them and their welfare. The chemical profession is not likely to be loved unless the general public feels by it much beloved. Talk of the contributions of science and technology is too much at arm's length to generate public warmth. There is little analyzed feeling of appreciation of science in the mind of a man because he is quickly transported by jet plane or housed and fed with increasing comfort. He not only expects but demands progress. This is true
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of the general public and even of many of the scientifically trained. There is reasonable doubt as to the soundness of the general public accolade and, therefore, as to its absolute worth. But if desired it can be gained by those willing to make the effort. Scientists and engineers are rising in the public's esteem, and can continue to rise if they try. Standing with one's employer" is presumably different. It is based on his opinion of the employee's worth to his organization. But opinions seldom are totally objective. Convincing the employer is a part of the struggle of gaining status and salary. The wise employer appreciates the potential returns from recognition, but the problem of distributing recognition is a very thorny one. While many have a distaste for what may be called "politics," we know of no successful system that eliminates it totally. Public status lies largely in the realm of human affairs. A chemist or chemical engineer wanting to do well in the field of polymers studies polymers. If he desires success in human affairs he must give careful attention to human affairs.
MARCH
13,
1961
C&EN
7
