LITERATURE The Scientist and the Research Report A research scientist should write his own report but his writing load should be kept a t a minimum ous process of writing and rewriting for dreamed of t h e delightful situation a n "outsider" or professional writer t o where he could carry o n research from take the place of the real author. Only day to day, from m o n t h to month, and t h e scientist who carried on t h e research even from year to year, without having is completely aware of what h e did a n d to write a research report unless h e observed as the work progressed t o wants to, says Clarence J. Hylander of completion. However, the scientist is of greatest the Army Chemical Corps Medical Laboratories. However, t h e research value in his laboratory, asserts H y report h a s always b e e n an integral part lander. Consequently, no more of his of the scientific procedure a n d has be time should b e taken u p in preparing come even more important today. reports a n d articles t h a n is absolutely This is especially true of research under necessary. Although t h e actual report writing belongs in the h a n d s of t h e government auspices. One major reason w h y a research scientist, the research organization can report is such a vital part of govern lessen his writing load. Some of t h e military laboratories, mental research is because of the in creasing a m o u n t of basic research car according to Hylander, aid t h e research ried on. Says Hylander, a great scientist i n his report writing by pre amount of work coming under the defi paring handbooks for him. Also, a few nition of scientific research is actually general books h a v e been published technological application aimed at purporting to assist scientists a n d other producing an "end item." If t h e end technical personnel in preparing m a item is not a n e w d r u g or a n improved terial for publication. Other aids to research scientists, piece of equipment, b u t a n idea or a technique, then the research report in says Hylander, should b e a group itself is t h e e n d item, Hylander asserts. of publication specialists to assist in Since many laboratories d o nothing processing t h e research reports. T h e but investigate a n d experiment, their publications section of t h e Technical only tangible o u t p u t is t h e report. For Information Office at Medical Labs, ac this reason, says Hylander, scientists cording t o Hylander, is able to expe working in such laboratories must as dite the research report in m a n y ways. sume responsibility for conscientious Such a staff, because of their famil a n d p r o m p t reporting procedures, if iarity with publication procedures at they a r e t o h a v e anything t o show for other research activities, c a n set u p standards against which the research their efforts. Still, another reason for t h e research report can b e measured. Also, these report being such a vital p a r t of gov standards can aid a scientist in pre ernment, and, i n particular military re paring a report acceptable to other search programs, is t h a t t h e public must scientists a n d administrators in style, be k e p t informed of results of research organization, nomenclature, a n d biblio if these programs a r e to have continued graphic details. After t h e research report has been public support. Nonetheless, says Hylander, many revised for technical accuracy, says scientists rebel against t h e preparation Hylander, a publications section can of research reports. This m a y b e true d o t h e editing. T w o technical editors because a great m a n y of them have can perform this task for a staff of never b e e n trained in report writing. scientists w h o produce a n annual aver It is a sad commentary on our profes age of 100 reports of journal article sional schools that t h e training of a length. young scientist rarely includes practical Another important aid to t h e author instruction in t h e fundamentals of good of research reports is a technical illus writing. trator, asserts Hylander. T h e research I t is most important t h a t t h e re scientist needs guidance in planning search scientist write his o w n report, tables, charts, graphs, a n d other illus says Hylander. It is a slow and tedi trative portions of t h e report. It is this JbvERY
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phase of research reporting which causes t h e greatest trouble to t h e scientist. This is so, says Hylander, because it requires a special knowledge of t h e suitability of illustrations for re productions and skill in draftsman ship.
§ NEW BOOKS r American Men of Science. Vol. I I . Bio logical Sciences. Jacques Cattell, editor. Ninth edition. 1276 pages. The Sci ence Press, Lancaster, Pa. 1955. $20. Includes about 25,000 biographies and about 5000 references, making a total of about 30,000 names. The Principles of Chemical Equilibrium. K. G. Denbigh. Cambridge University Press, 32 East 57th St., New York 22, Ν. Υ. 1955. $7.50. Principles of thermodynamics; reaction and phase equilibria; thermodynamics in rela tion to the existence of molecules. Annual Survey of Manufactures: 1953. U. S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census. viii -f- 228 pages. Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. 1955. $2.75. Organic Syntheses. Vol. 35. T. L. Cairns, editor-in-chief, vi -f- 122 pages. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 440 Fourth Ave., New York, Ν. Υ. 1955. $3.75. Methods for preparing organic compounds. Preparations appear in the alphabetical order of common names of the com pounds. Crop Protection. G. J. Rose, xxi -f- 223 pages. Philosophical Library, Inc., 15 East 40th St., New York, Ν . Υ. 1955. $10. Practical guide to the protection of crops from the initial seed stage t o the stored product. Design of Heating and Ventilating Sys tems.
F . W. HUTCIIINSON.
xi -f 308
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24 pages.
Chemit
Co., 952 Maple Drive, Franklin Square, Ν. Υ. 1955. $2.00. Comprehensive analysis of the chemical concerns listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Symposium on Applications of Radioac tivity in the Food and Food Processing Industries. Tracerlab, Inc., 130 High Street, Boston 10, Mass. 1955. Electrical Insulation and Dielectrics 1955. An Electrical Manufacturing Design An nual. 130 pages. T h e Gage Publish ing Co., 1250 Sixth Ave., New York 20, Ν. Υ. 1955. $3.00. Application of insulation and dielectrics in the design and development of electrically operated products.
