EDUCATION
Β. R. Stanerson, assistant to the ACS executive secretary, shows audience some literature the society uses to attract potential scientists. Helen E. Hale, Towson, Md.T chairman, operating committee, Science Achievement Awards for Students and Recognition Awards for Science Teachers, looks on
Teachers for More M a n p o w e r Science teachers usually d e t e r m i n i n g student's choice of chemistry as career QELECTION of chemistry or chemical ^ engineering as a career is almost al ways the result of the influence of some living person, usually an inspiring teacher in high school or college. This is t h e conclusion reached after ques tioning numerous people in the pro fession, said B. R. Stanerson, assistant to the executive secretary of the ACS at t h e Second National Convention of the National Science Teachers Associa tion here April 1 to 3. I n explaining why the chemical pro fession is concerned about need for building up scientific and engineering manpower for the future, Stanerson mentioned t h a t according to figures put out by the OfBce of Education, percent age of bachelors' degrees conferred in the sciences and engineering, as com pared with total degrees conferred, has been decreasing steadily for the past several years. In 1947 to 1948, the percentage for chemistry was 2.727r while in 1952 to 1953 the figure dropped to 1.95'/r. In engineering, trend is similar with exception that there was a slight increase from 1948 to 1950, b u t this was offset by rapid decline from 1950 to 1953. An extrapo lation of t h e s e trends indicate that there would be no engineers a t all graduating in 1960 and no chemists graduating in 1970. That such a thing would h a p p e n is of course absurd, said Stanerson, b u t trend was sufficiently 1594
influence in
noticeable in 1951 to 1952 that the ACS decided that it should d o something at>out the situation. Through the network of 144 local sections in all 48 states the 70,000 members of the ACS have normal op portunities for meeting students and discussing career possibilities, and in addition, almost every section has a definite program to encourage such contacts. Major emphasis is usually placed at the secondary school level. TThe Society distributes literature to the local sections to aid their counseling activities. Separate literature is also available for students at t h e junior and senior high schools, junior colleges, a n d higher levels. Stanerson said that h e would like to see a copy of "Careers in Chemistry and Chemical Engineer ing" in the hands of every high school a n d college science teacher, and every vocational counsellor in the countiy. T h e Society also distributes literature from its national headquarters t o schools and individuals and to organi zations promoting career information. Manpower Commissions. The short a g e of technically and scientifically trained manpower which has been a matter of concern for many years has now come to pass. Help is needed in t h e secondary schools if w e are to have a n adequate number of scientists and engineers, said M. D. Carpenter, Stand a r d Oil ( I n d i a n a ) , representing the En CHEMICAL
gineering Manpower Commission and also the Scientific Manpower Commis sion. A large percentage of high schools in the country still d o not have curricula which fit students for engineering school. One difficulty is that many teachers are not sufficiently trained. T o help alleviate this situation industry is being encouraged to establish summer programs for teachers. By hiring teach ers for the summer, the teachers get an opportunity to learn a great deal about latest developments in industry. Of course, there are m a n y who think that the shortage of technically trained people is no problem but that the whole matter is a plot by the big com panies to flood the market so that they can cut salaries. Carpenter assured his audience that this is not true and that primary aim is to improve quality and not the quantity. Future Scientists. Purposes of the Future Scientists of America Founda tion are to help all students understand science and technology and to help able students to prepare for careers in sci ence and technology, according to J. H. Woodburn, NSTA, representing the foundation. Second to the problem of being un derpaid, the biggest problem facing the science teacher is lack of public recog nition and continued appreciation of teachers' efforts. The foundation tries to help science teachers by increasing their salaries, increasing their knowl edge of scientific developments, and obtaining industrial jobs for them in the summer. Also, next August there will be an exploratory conference financed by a $3 0,000 gift from Crown-Zellerbach, which will enable 32 selected teachers to go out and visit various Kenneth Goldj'an, student at Holy Trinity High School, Chicago, demonstrates a working model of a sulfuric acid plant
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
m&iz&i
ATLAS ATLAS P O W D E R C O M P A N Y WILMINGTON 9 9 , DELAWARE
FOOD INDUSTRY DIVISION CHEMICALS DEPARTMENT
ATLAS EXPANDS EMULSIFIER PRODUCTION... FORMS NEW FOOD INDUSTRY DIVISION Atlas Powder Company's interest in the utilization of farm NEW C A P A C I T Y REQUIRED products for the production of chemicals is being further exTO MEET INCREASED D E M A N D tended by the construction of two additional esterification When the present standard of idenplants. Located at Memphis, Tennessee, and Brantford, Ontario, tity for bread was issued under the these plants will irianuf acture mono- and diglycerides and other Federal Food and Drug law, Atlas's emulsifiers. Supplementing the production of the Wilmington polyoxyethylene stéarate emulsifier plant, they will enable Atlas to produce emulsifiers at three (Myrj® 45) was not included as an widely separate locations, affording increased flexibility in optional ingredient. Atlas therefore discontinued the sale of that emulsisource of supply and freight savings to users. PLANT CONSTRUCTION STARTED
The plant at Meimphis, larger of the two new plants, is scheduled for completion by late 19541. I t will be located adjacent to the Tr^ndiex plant of the HumKo Company, one of the country's leading producers of fats and oils. This new plant will thus be able to take advantage of a close source of raw materials and the latest technological improvements.
cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, surface c o a t i n g s , t e x t i l e s , cleaning compounds, petroleum production and refining. F O O D INDUSTRY
DIVISION
TO HANDLE SPECIALIZED PROCESSING APPLICATIONS
The second plant, at Brantford, Ontario, is being erected by Atlas Powder Company, Canada» Ltd., and will be in operation in about six months. Prelimina-ry planning envisions a second unit for the production of ethylene oxide derivatives.
Establishment of a new Food Industry Division, specifically to serve the food processing industries, reflects Atlas's recognition (1) of the growing importance of chemistry in improving the nation's food and (2) of the need for a separate division within the Chemicals Department to meet the specialized requirements of food processors.
Both plants will produce emulsifiers which the food industry uses in such products as shortening, margarine, candy, ice cream, bread and baked goods, to improve waling quality, appetizing nature" and attractiveness. These emulsifiers help to distribute oil-soluble ingredients homogeneously throughout the foo»d products in very fine particles. The-y also find use in
The Food Industry Division will be responsible for the development of policies with respect to the marketing of food adjuncts or ingredients for the food industry. In addition, Atlas has organized a distinct group at its Central Research Laboratories having quarters in which specialized equipment has been installed for research work on food products.
VOLUME
3 2,
NO.
16»
» » » APRIL
19,
1954
fier for major food uses, although it still is carrying on the scientific studies looking toward the future establishment of the suitability of this emulsifier for major food uses. Atlas continues to supply the demands of the food industry for certain of its Span® and Τ ween® emulsifiers. Since mono- and diglycerides were officially approved as bread ingredi ents, Atlas began the manufacture of these types of emulsifiers in its Atlas Point, Del., plant. Because of increas ing demand by the food industry for Atmul® and Atmos® mono- and di glycerides, it was decided to expand production facilities through the erec tion of the new plants a t Memphis and Brantford. Atmul emulsifiers are used chiefly by the bakery, shorten ing and margarine industries, while Atmos emulsifiers are used by the ice cream industry. The construction of two additional emulsifier plants, together with Atlas's designation of a Food Industry Divi sion, is looked upon as particularly promising for the development of improved products, greater savings and faster service for all sections of the food industry. 1595
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' * Columbia" is a registered trade-mark of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation. 1596
EDUCATION. industrial installations a n d then get to gether a n d discuss w h a t t h e y saw. Science A w a r d s . Science Achieve ment Awards for Students and Recogni tion Awards for Science Teachers at t e m p t to introduce students t o the type of work scientists do a n d t o excite their interest in such work. T h e program is definitely making an impact, according to Helen E. Hale, Towson, Md., chair man, operating committee. During t h e last three years t h e n u m b e r of pieces of literature sent o u t h a s j u m p e d from 15,000 to 52,000 to 60,000. T h e num ber of students entries in 1953 is double t h a t of 1952 a n d it is hoped that it will more than double i n 1954. Greatest cause for optimism is i n t h e teacher phase of the program. More a n d more teachers are taking an interest a n d people are coming t o realize t h e u n b o u n d e d influence of good teachers. S t . Louis University Holds Summer Institute f o r Teaching Chemistry The fourth annual Summer Institute for t h e Teaching of Chemistry, spon sored b y St. Louis University will be held this year from June 2 1 t o July 30. T h e summer program offers four types of activity: lecture courses, seminar i n problems of t h e teaching of chemis try, field studies, a n d special lectures. Special lectures p l a n n e d include: June 3 0 . G R A N T W . S M I T H Pennsyl
vania State University. Difficult Con cepts in Beginning Chemistry. July 7 .
GEORGE P . KLUBERTANZ,
St.
Louis University. H o w D o W e Get Sci entific Knowledge? July
14.
HUGH
C.
MULDOON, D U -
quesne University. W h a t t h e Public Should Expect of a Science Teacher. Although t h e institute is part of t h e program of t h e University which leads t o an M.S. degree in t h e teaching of chemistry, it is also open t o high school chemistry teachers w h o wish to spend the summer in review and further work in chemistry a n d teaching problems. Further information m a y b e secured from Theodore A. Ashford, director of the institute.
• The Pemco Foundation of Baltimore, Md. has established the Karl Turk fel lowship at H a r v a r d Business School to provide broad training in business ad ministration for potential leaders of the ceramics industry. T h e fellowship car ries a $5000 stipend. It will b e awarded for the two-year course of study leading to a master's degree in business admin istration. Applicants for the fellowship should have either college training in ceramic technology, ceramic engineer ing, silicate chemistry, or equivalent experience in t h e ceramic or allied in CHEMICAL
dustries. F o r further information about the fellowship write H a r v a r d Business School, Boston 63, Mass. • F . C . Tompkins of t h e Imperial Col lege of Science a n d Technology, Eng land, has been invited b y Lehigh Uni v e r s i t y to b e the first Wetherill lecturer in chemistry. Tompkins, British surface chemist, is in addition, secretary of the F a r a d a y Society a n d editor of t h e so ciety's transactions. H e will spend the week of April 26 a t Lehigh a n d present two principal lectures: a general lecture for a d v a n c e d undergraduate a n d gradu ate students in chemistry, a n d a spe cialized lecture for graduate students. k I n d i a n a University's program to im prove high school chemistry education t h r o u g h advanced training for teachers will b e supported by t h e Standard Oil Foundation of Chicago. U n d e r t h e trial plan, t h e university has a c c e p t e d a $1000 grant. It wiïl supply fellowships for five high school teachers taking summer studies toward masters' degrees in teaching w i t h a major i n chemistry. • A n e w curriculum in industrial distribution a t Clarkson College o f Techn o l o g y provides a combination of engineering sciences with business administration and marketing techniques. Five scholarships have b e e n provided for t h e n e w curriculum by companies in t h e field of industrial distribution. E a c h scholarship will provide a student $500 a y e a r for t h e four year course leading t o a B.S. degree, • T h e department of chemistry a t Stanford University n o w bears t h e n o m de p l u m e of t h e d e p a r t m e n t of chemistry and chemical engineering, according to G e o r g e S. Parks, h e a d of the department. • D e p a r t m e n t of chemistry, University of T e x a s h a s given three awards in chemistry. W . A . Felsing Memorial Awards ifor outstanding work i n physical chemistry went to Frederick C. Stehling, first-year g r a d u a t e student, and Marcellus Coltharp, u n d e r g r a d u a t e chemistry major. Milam S. B. Munson, u n d e r g r a d u a t e chemistry major received t h e Henry Winston H a r p e r Award. • G r a d u a t e fellowship for 1954 to 1955 with a stipend of $1800 for 12 months and exemptions from tuition a n d laboratory fees is being given at O h i o S t a t e University. Fellowship is in departm e n t of mineralogy b u t is o p e n to students with a bachelor's degree i n chemistry or chemical engineering. W r i t e : Duncan McConnell, d e p a r t m e n t of mineralogy, Ohio State University, Columbus 10, Ohio. AND ENGINEERING
NEWS
