VOL.8. No. 8
CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM
1629
Minors are of correlative value, but are also of sufficient diversity to enhance the possibility of obtaining a position. And, finally, to answer the demands of the constantly rising qualifications placed upon new teachers, or for those who may have an adaptability for research work, the curriculum presented is of sufficient completeness and intensity to qualify as an acceptable preliminary for work toward an advanced degree in a university.
The National Research Council. When, in 1917, the United States entered into the World War, it was necessary t o mobilize every agency in the nation for its defense. As no war in these modem times can be brought to a successful conclusion without making the greatest use of the scientific and technical institutions of a country, President Wilson requested the National Academy of Sciences, which had been dulv constituted by Congress the national center for scientific effort, to organize an emergency body t o centralize research activities for defense purposes. The National Research Council war therefore established by the Academy. I t s assistance in the years of emergency proved so valuahle as to demonstrate its capacity for permanent service as a center of national effort. Accordingly, President Wilson requested the National Academy to arrange far a permanent organization for the Research Council, under the authority given by the charter of the Academy. Soon after forming this permanent organization, i t became necessary to arrange if possible for a permanent home far the Academy and its agent, the Council. After careful consideration of the needs of the two bodies, the Camegie Corporation of New York gave the money for the erection of a building. . . . . Thus constituted, the Council is a central administrative organization for the scientific and technical research institutions of the country. It has authority to administer funds granted far research. I t has grants for research fellowships, and for publication purposes. Large endowments come from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial; from the General Education Fund and the International Education Board; and from The Chemical Foundation.. . . .The total annual receipts from all sources are over a million dollars. The Council is active in the publication field, although much of the results of its committee research are published in the scientific and technical journals, or in the publications of various societies.. . . . The details of research projects are in charge of numerous committees of the Council, which does not itself engage directly in research. These committees are made up of the most prominent investigators in the several fields, men who know what there is to be done, what has already been accomplished, what is being done a t present, and who is doing it. The Council is in the dosest relation to the faculties of the various scientific and technical schools, the research workers in the scientific laboratories of the United States Government, and with those men engaged in investigation for large corporations or for technical societies and trade associations. For the work of cojrdination and classification of the activities of these committees, the Council has organized divisions for each science, the duty of these divisions being t o arrange for meetings of these committees, t o keep in touch with the problems which they are investimtinn. -. and to reaister and collect all papers prepared for presentation a t these meetings or elsewhere. . . . . Following the example of the United States. other countries have ormnized similar . research councils, and these have joined in an international organization for mutual help and advice. All of these will serve t o foster the spirit of research, without which little economic progress can be made.-Ind. Bull. of Arthur D. LitUc, Inc. ~
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