INDUSTRIAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS* LEONARD H. CRETCHER, MELLON INSTITUTE OP INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
A lax terminology obtains with respect to the use of the terms "scholarship" and ellow ow ship." For the sake of clarity, the designat& scholarship should be restricted to a grant essentially for the assistance or support of a student; a fellowship, however, should relate to a similar grant to a scientist or other person fully qualified to pursue research. Almost all colleges and universities have scholarships of the classic type, usually permanent, for the aid of worthy students, some i n spec{fied subjects and some without such restriction. Industrial scholarships, on the other hand, are usually of temporary character. The aim of some of them i s to sustain disinterested research on a problem assigned by the comfiny or association interested. Then, too, we have the scholarshifis founded by industrialists which permit of research on problems selected by the faculty. Smnetimes it i s understood or implied that the donor will have first chance to secure the services of the student after graduation if he so desires. Thoughtful industrialists look upon the graduate scholarship as a n investment, inasmuch as its founding may be regarded not only as a means of repeying in $art their debt to pure science, but as a n aid i n the training of men for useful sem'ce. Most of the students eventually find their way into teaching, pure science research, or industrial investigation; no matter which career i s followed. industry finally benefits. There i s also the true type of educational fellowship, namely, those grants, either temporary or permanent, that enable the men selected, holders of the Ph.D. degree or its equivalat, in each case, to pursue advanced, protracted scient$c investigation under suitable facilities. In some instances, the recipient i s permitted to choose the institution where he works. The National Research Fellowships are representative of this general class. A totally different type of fellowship is the basis of the research procedure at Mellon Institute. B y the system of this institution fellowships, one year in length, are sustained by manufacturing companies or associations and are assiqned to properly qualified persons, usually specialists. Assistants to these fellovship incumbents come under the scholarship class, inasmuch as they have the opportunity to pursue graduate work in the Unioersity of Pittsburgh, with which M d o n Institute is allied coiperatively. I n the paper the procedures followed in founding and operating scholarships and fellowshifis under industries' auspices are evaluated. Special attention is given to industries' appraisal of the benefits that are derivable from such research grants.
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* Contribution to the symposium on "CoBperationbetween Industry and Chemical Education," held under the auspices of the Division of Chemical Education, at the 81st meeting of the A. C. S. at Indianapolis, Indiana, March 31, 1931. 1839
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A lax terminology obtains with respect to the use of the terms scholarship and fellowship. For the sake of clarity, the designation scholarship should he restricted to a grant essentially for the assistance or support of a student, either undergraduate or graduate. The term studentship, as used in Canada, is even more definitive. A fellowship, however, should relate to a similar grant to a scientist or other person fully qualified to pursue research. We have National Research fellows and we have fellows of Mellon Institute--these are proper designations-but we should not have "fellows" who are undergoing undergraduate or graduate training in educational institutions. In other words, the term fellow should be limited to a man who is fitted to pursue investigational work, having completed his actual university training. This idea is in consonance with the recognized use of the term in England. It is there a mark of distinction. Too often what are merely scholarships are termed fellowships, with a consequent misunderstanding and misinterpretation on the part of donors and prospective donors. There is, in fact, widespread confusion in the use of these designations. Mellon Institute, for example, is frequently misunderstood to be a school of the University of Pittsburgh. While it is indeed an "inchoate school of specific industries," it does not offer courses of instruction; i t has fellowships, and not true scholarships. Types of Scholarships and Fellowships Almost all colleges and universities have scholarships of the classic type, usually permanent, for the financial aid of worthy students, some in specified subjects and some without such restriction. Other scholarships, more frequently referred to as fellowships, are supported in educational institutions by the industries. They are usually awarded to graduate students but sometimes to undergraduates. The aim of such grants, which are generally of temporary character, is to sustain research on a specific problem of importance to the company or association interested. Then, too, we have the scholarships founded by industrialists in graduate schools which permit of research on problems selected by the faculty thereof; the results, if any, are usually published. In another and more formal type, the problem is selected by the industrial donor and the results, if any, belong to the donor. It is sometimes understood or implied that the latter will have first chance to secure the services of the student after graduation if he so desires. Finally, we have the true type of research fellowships, namely, those grants, either temporary or permanent, that enable the men selected, holders of the Ph.D. degree or its equivalent in each case, to pursue advanced, protracted scientific investigation under suitable facilities. In some instances, the recipient is permitted to choose the institution where he works.
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The fellowships of the National Research Council are representative of this class. These fellowships are most frequently and most properly concerned with pure science investigations, that is, disinterested research. A totally differenttype of fellowship is the basis of the research procedure of Mellon Institute. By the system of this institution fellowships, one year in length, though usually renewed year after year, are sustained by manufacturing companies or associations and are assigned to properly qnalified persons, usually specialists. Assistants to these fellowship incumbents come in the "scholarship class," inasmuch as they have the opportunity to pursue graduate work in the University of Pittsburgh, with which Mellon Institute is allied coiiperatively. The Basic Idea of Research Grants In this consideration of the subject attention will first be accorded to the underlying philosophy as well as to the development of what can be termed the fellowship idea in industry and education. There will be attempted an evaluation of the success that in general has attended the application of various kinds of scholarships and fellowships. The underlying principle of scholarships and fellowships of all types is, in origin, attributable to the recognized obligation of society to nurture the advancement of knowledge and to aid in the extension of educational procedures that have this worthy objective. The prime aim of the fellowship idea is the encouragement of original discovery, and hence, in extension, the support of efforts to advance scientific knowledge. In addition, there is the other aim of training men in research methods for useful careers as pure and applied scientists. In essence, therefore, the scholarship and fellowship idea originated in, and has been developed by, a purely utilitarian motive, the same motive that is apparent in all worthwhile philanthropic contributions to education and research. So far in this section reference has been had principally to pure science research grants. In the case of scholarships or fellowships that are concerned with problems of interest to the donors thereof, it is plain that the foundational motive is one of commercial or business expediency. There is no question that this type of grant is utilitarian in character. One of the determining factors in the acceptance of scholarships in some institutions has been their interference with the consulting practice of faculty members. In such institutions graduate assistants who can aid in such consulting work are sometimes preferred to scholars or fellows. It happens, however, that in certain institutions industrial fellows or their equivalent are accepted by faculty members if retainers for them are provided by the donors. In those cases the faculty members profit just as much from research grants as they do from straight consulting work.
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At Mellon Institute members of the executive staff are not permitted to engage in consulting practice nor to accept outside remuneration for their advice or work. At Lehigh University, where a similar system is in operation, it is understood that the purpose of the fellowship is t o do usefully productive investigation and to train promising young scientists and engineers for careers in the industries, and that a t that institution the consulting work of faculty members is kept separate from the fellowships. General Considerations Respecting Industrial Pellowships The industrial fellowship should provide for the investigation of problems of specific importance to the industries, the solution of which will mutually and materially benefit both the manufacturer himself and the public. The underlying thought of every industrial fellowship procedure is that each useful agent in our life of today is the product of an industry and that i t is only through the industries that these novel products of civilization become available to the public. It does not matter whether the holder of an industrial scholarship or fellowship is receiving graduate training or is already a specialist; in every instance he is appointed to pit his strength, training, and creative ability against a problem that is of technologic significance. If the fellowship is founded and sustained by a manufacturer and the latter decides upon the problem for investigation, it will be understood that this problem is of technical importance because it has been chosen by one who has inner knowledge of the conditions of the business. An arrangement of this character is more conducive to satisfactory relations and is more stimulating to the ambitious fellow than one where the problem is selected and assigned by a faculty member who is not intimately conversant with industrial needs. Too often the teacher of applied science does not realize that he is, after all, usually on the outside of industry and has merely an extramural connection therewith, notwithstanding the frequency of his visits to plants and the extent of his consulting practice. It must be admitted, however, that only through industrial connections can he acquaint himself with actual industrial practice. This brings us face to face with the question as to what type of problem can best and most properly be handled by a university. Because the question involves so many institutions and faculties of varying competence, so many fellows of varying capacity and training, and such widely differing donors and problems, i t is almost impossible to answer it specifically. Some men seem to be productive of creative research no matter where they work or under what conditions. It is the writer's opinion, however, that the university or college is and should be primarily an educational institution whose greatest service to industry is the thorough training of young men for careers as scientists. It is believed that the research in universities which is sustained by grants
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from the industries should in general be of broad fundamental nature; that the subjects studied should be of interest to and supported by the largest possible number of industrialists; that this support should be in fact cooperative. The more industries that contribute to sustaining a research and the more money they spend, the more each one of them and therefore all of us profit. There is some question as to the right of a university endowed by private, state, or federal funds to devote its time and money to the solution of the problems of a single company. It is indeed thought that university industrial scholarships will contribute more of value if the problems investigated are chosen by the faculty and students themselves. It follows then that the true industrial fellowship-working with problems of product or process development-can best be camed on in institutions organized and conducted for that purpose. In expressing the opinion that industrial fellowships on definitely practical problems of individuals or firms should not be accepted on a fellowship basis by a university faculty, no criticism of the teacher himself is implied. It is felt that the situation would automatically and properly adjust itself were the salaries of these men raised to proper levels. It is believed, then, because of the public nature of an educational institution and its responsibility for the broad, theoretical training of youth, that the definitely practical and commercial aspects of research are best studied in the research laboratories of industries or by industrial research fellows working in institutions definitely incorporated or administered for the purpose, the financial support coming wholly from the industries. Another reason for the sound practicality of this arrangement is that a process or a patent may be both an asset and a liability. The industrial research of a university should in no wise involve that institution in legal and business entanglements. The system of procedure worked out a t the University of Michigan, though not separately incorporated, is doubtless quite satisfactory. This system as well as those in use a t Purdue, Cincinnati, and elsewhere should be discussed a t some time by those competent to do so. There should be no objection to the research institution working cooperatively with a university as it may profit much from educational contacts and library facilities.
The Value of Industrial Research Grants From an economic standpoint, industrial scholarships are necessary because for good men it is so often impossible to remain in school beyond the four years required for the bachelor's degree. This is true more than ever at the present time. Without scholarships it would be impossible to provide means for many of the financially dependent students, a group from which many of our most creative men develop. Many thoughtful in-
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dustrialists look upon the graduate scholarship as an investment, inasmuch as its founding may be regarded not only as a means of repaying in part their debt to pure science, but as an aid in the training of men for useful senrice. Most of the students eventually find their way into teaching, pure science research, or industrial investigation; no matter which career is followed, industry fmally benefits. Further, these industrialists know that through their contact with the faculty a knowledge and appreciation of their work and their problems are acquired by the teacher, useful to him in his training of men for the industries and in stimulating him, occasionally, to do research of his own on fundamental data of industrial interest. From those industrialists who have supported scholarships from this broad point of view there has come little criticism. To those who have expected a definitely tangible return, the results have not always been so satisfactory. I t is said that too often faculty members, in their desire to obtain research grants of obvious advantage to the university and to themselves, fail to study the problems carefully enough from the standpoint of their probable solution in the time given, overlooking their own lack of time for supervision and the lack of suitable apparatus and facilities. Another criticism has been that there is too often a dearth of management, which is most evident in the lack of systematic progress reports and a comprehensive summary report at the termination of the project. Lack of contact with industry, often given as another reason for ineffectual scholarships, is not always wholly the fault of those on the academic side of the counter. The main reason, as stated by one research director, himself a professor of science, for the weakness of university industrial research is "lack of organized opinion as to procedure." May we hope that further discussion of this important topic may lead to crystallization of opinion and a closer and more effective cooperation between the industries and chemical education.
