May 1958, Volume 50, No. 5 APPLIED JOURNALS, ACS Director of Publicafions, C. B. Larrabee Fdiforial Direcfor, Walter J. Murphy Executive Fdifor, James M. Crowe Producfian Manager, Joseph H. Kuney INDUSTRIALA N D ENGINEERINGCHEMISTRY Fdifor, Will H. Shearon, Jr. EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Phone Republic 7-5300 Teletype WA 23 Associafe Edifors: 0. Gladys Gordon, Stella Anderson, Ruth Cornette, Katherine I. Biggs, George B. Krantz Assisfanf Fdifars: Betty V. Kieffer, Melvyn A. Kohudic, Arthur Poulos, Robert J. Riley, Robert J. Kelley, Hanns 1. Sperr, Ruth M. Howorth, Eugenia Keller, Sue M. Solliday, William H. Gay Fdiforial Assisfanfs. Malvina B. Preiss, Marjorie H. Swenson, Ruth Reynard, Gloria H. Wills Staff Arfirt: Melvin D. Buckner BRANCH EDITORIAL OFFICES CHICAGO 1 , ILL. Roam 926,36 South Wabash Ave. Phone State 2-5148 Teletype CG 725 Associafe Edifars: Howard J. Sanders, Chester Placek Assisfanf Editor: Laurence J. White HOUSTON 2, TEX., 718 Melrose Bldg. Phone Foirfox 3-7107 Teletype HO 7 2 Associate Edifor: Bruce F. Greek Assisfanf Editor: Earl V. Anderson NEW YORK 16, N. Y., 2 Park Ave. Phone Oregon 9-1646 Teletype NY 1-4726 Associate Editors: William Q. Hull, Harry Stenerson, David M. Kiefer, D. Gray Weaver, Walter S. Fedor, Morton Salkind Assistant Editor: louis A. Agnello SAN FRANCISCO 4, CALIF. 703 Mechanics’ Institute Bldg., 57 Post St. Phone Exbrook 2.2695 Teletype SF 549 Associafe Edifor: Richard H. Newhall Assisfanf Fdifor: David E. Gushee EASTON, PA. 20th and Northampton Sts. Phone Easton 91 11 Teletype ESTN Pa 48 Associafe E d i f w Charlotte C. Sayre Fdiforiol Assistants: Joyce A. Richords, Elizabeth R. Rufe, June A. Barron EUROPEAN OFFICE Bush House, Aldwych, London Phone Temple Bar 3605 Cable JIECHEM Associofe Editor: Albert S. Hester Confribufing Witors: H. Carl Bauman, S. M. MacCutcheon, Robert F. Wall, James B. Weaver, W. J. Youden. Advisory Board: A. H. Batchelder, James M. Church, Lauchlin M. Currie, Arno C. Fieldner, Leo Friend, Oustave Heinemann, Samuel D. Koonce, C. J. Krister, E. E. McSweeney, F. Drew Mayfield, Wayne E. Kuhn, M a x S. Peters, Earl P. Stevenson, H. Gladys Swope, Richard C. Waugh
Science Education Pilot Plants
LAST
month, in running down sources of information for a couple of high school science students on a solar furnace project, we were intrigued to find just coming on the specialty market a solar cigarette lighter. I n case you missed seeing page 27 A in the April I/EC, take a look at our “hold-the-press” report on this interesting little gadget. We got hold of one the day we were judging our local high school science fair, and demonstrated at the fair that even a show-window flood lamp would work with the miniature solar furnace to light a cigarette in less than half a minute. There’s a moral to this little story-we have been besieged by staff members, neighbors, and visitors wanting to see how the lighter works. They all went away impressed, and with the concept of the solar furnace fixed firmly in their minds. True, the lighter is a gadget, not to replace conventional fluid lighters, but useful for many occasions. It is even more useful as a striking science education prop. Perhaps if we had a dozen or a hundred more props of this kind we could put lessons in science across to students and the public alike-very forcefully. Then in the mail yesterday came something we knew was in the making-a 20-page booklet, prepared by a former Managing Editor of l/EC, now with Atlantic Research Corp. ARC is the manufacturer of the spinner rockets for Vanguard. This booklet is a public service, written for rocket amateurs, particularly student groups. W e were indeed pleased to see one paragraph in the introduction : The public’s reaction to the rocket hobby has ranged from qualified approval to demands that all such activity be banned. We believe the interest in this hobby is so intense that an official ban will merely drive the activity underground, making the situation worse than it is now. We further believe that the rocket hobby can yield positive good in science education if it is conducted with the guidance of adult sponsors who appreciate the need for proper precaution. ARC’S effort does not pretend to be a complete guide; it docs not guarantee safety. But it is a carefully prepared gqide, one easily understood and followed. We believe that ARC has done a distinct service to youth and to science education which will more than justify the hours of labor and the expense in making this booklet available. ARC suggests that rocket experimentation be done in groups or clubs, or if done alone by a student, his parents be asked to study the booklet and advise with him. Just recently William C. Brown, aviation education specialist for the Department of Health, Education and TVclfare, gave the same advice in a group of pointers for young Pocketeers. A newspaper report called them “don’ts’’; from their wording tie would term them “do’s,’’ and we applaud HEW too for taking the positive approach in encouraging rocket experiment safety. Most hobby shops already carry a line of hobby rockets-true solid propellant rocket motors. They arc designed for maximum safety, and at prices that parents can afford. Thousands of youngsters over the years have had their science spark fanned by hobby-type chemistry sets. The rocket kits are even cheaper. Dad may be buying a rocket kit instead of a model railroad for Junior and himself next Christmas.
Advertising Managemenf REINHOLD PUBLISHING CORP. 430 Park Ave., N e w York 22, N. Y. (For Branch Offices see page 131 AI
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INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
