CHEM1CALAND ENGINEERING
NEWS WALTER J. MURPHY, Editor
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X HE second and third volumes of the report to the President by John R. Steelman, chairman of the President's Scientific Research Board, have been issued and they are must reading for every chemist and chemical engineer. Vol. II, entitled "The Federal Research Program," presents details on the scientific programs of the Federal Government, providing the history, organization, expenditures, and personnel for research in each agency. Vol. I l l , entitled "Administration for Research/' gives Steelman's findings on problems of the Federal Government's administration of research and development, points out key problems and policy issues, and makes recommendations for moderni zinggovernment operation in the various fields of science. Vol. I l l also contains the results of a special survey among American scientists conducted March 21 to May 5, 1947, for the President's Scientific Research Board, by the National Opinion Research Center, University of Denver. Members of the chemical profession will find this section of special significance, although it covers all scientists and also includes in the total a higher percentage of individuals with no degrees than does the membership cf the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY.
A detailed discussion of the contents of the two latest Steelman reports is impossible because of space limitations, but, speaking generally, both show a splendid grasp of a very complex problem. We now have available for the first time in the history of this country an over-all analysis of the expenditures for research and development in the physical and biological sciences by agencies and departments of the Federal Government, which this year will total approximately two thirds of a billion dollars. I t is plain that government research has grown like Topsy. The entrance of the Federal Government into a wide variety of research has been effected piecemeal because no mechanism exists for formulating over-all governmental research and development policies which take into consideration both the needs of the Federal Government and the place of the federal program in the total national program. It is true, as Steelman points out, t h a t the United States, almost alone among major powers, has failed to establish an effective means of determining broad scientific policy on a national or government-wide basis. Despite such a lack of coordination, we are preeminent in applied research and development in the physical sciences and have fought successfully two world wars in which science has played decisive roles, utilizing more or less makeshift and temporary mecha-
nisms in periods of national emergency. As science progresses many believe, and we think rightfully so, that a unified policy is essential to our future welfare. Research by groups in different laboratories along similar lines is good up to-a certain point, but plain duplication in research is wasteful both in money and scientific personnel. Steelman in Vol. I l l elaborates on the four specific proposals made in Vol. I for strengthening the federal machinery. They are : 1. An Interdepartmental Committee on Scientific Research and Development established by executive order. 2. Authority vested in the Bureau of the Budget to review federal scientific research and development programs. 3. Appointment of a member of the White House staff to act as scientific liaison officer. 4. Establishment of a national science foundation on sound lines. Just what constitutes sound lines for a national science foundation will be interpreted differently. There are two schools of thought: (1) t h a t the foundation should be under the domination of the President, and (2) that the foundation should be directed by a group largely independent of such domination. Aside from this specific difference of opinion, we see very little in M r . Steelman's proposals that will not meet with universal agreement. Certainly Mr. Steelman and bis associates have demonstrated in all three volumes so far released an enlightened understanding of the scientist and his problems. Mr. Steelman is mainly concerned with the scientist employed by the Government. His sympathetic approach and strictly fair analysis of these problems should result in long overdue changes in many directions and greatly improved morale among scientists in government laboratories. We strongly urge every reader to obtain copies of Vols. I , II, and I I I . They can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Vol. I costs 20 cents; the other two, 55 cents each. Vol. IV is expected to make its appearance shortly and deals with the shortage of scientists, its implications for our progress, and the steps t h a t must be taken to relieve the shortage. Vol. V, dealing with the nation's medical research, will have less interest to chemists and chemical engineers, but no member of the chemical profession who wishes to keep informed on questions of direct concern to the profession should fail to secure copies of all five volumes.
