terdependence which exists b e t w e e n the various scientific fields." In addition t o t h e main display a 3 0 m i n u t e film will b e shown continuously in a 600-seat t h e a t e r within the science hall. Shorter films showing specific scientific theories a n d a science library are planned. T h e Belgians emphasize t h a t t h e par ticipating nations aren't in competition. T h e exhibits won't be identified with the countries p r e s e n t i n g them. H o w ever, awards will b e m a d e for t h e best display. • Tight S c h e d u l e . Plans for t h e U. S. science display a r e moving along on a tight schedule. U . S. Commis sioner General H o w a r d S. Cullman is in charge of over-all U. S. participation at Brussels. M o n e y for t h e exhibits comes from the State D e p a r t m e n t , with t h e National Science Foundation r e sponsible for designing, building, a n d operating t h e science exhibits (C&EN, Aug. 26, page 3 2 ) . W i t h t h e organization a n d planning stages completed, the U. S. p r o g r a m now moves into t h e actual construction phase. I n fact, some exhibits a r e nearly completed. Plans call for 7 6 exhibits, nearly 2 5 % of the total. T h e Much time a n d planning go into getting t h e science displays ready for t h e exhibits will be distributed t h r o u g h t h e 1958 Brussels World's Fair. Thomas O . Jones ( r i g h t ) , acting h e a d of National four subject classes. D e a d l i n e for con Science Foundation's Office of Scientific Information, shows features of t h e struction of exhibits is Nov. 15. first display model received to Paul E . Klopsteg, NSF's associate director Advisory committees for each class for research ( l e f t ) , a n d James M. Mitchell, associate director of m a n a g e m e n t have been appointed b y Cullman. A n elite group of American scientists h e a d s each category: Ernest O. Lawrence of the University of California is chairman of t h e atom class; H e n r y Eyring, Uni versity of Utah, h e a d s t h e molecule Brussels 1958 World's Fair features science displays class, with Cyril S. Smith, University of from 16 nations, including more than 7 0 from U. S. Chicago, responsible for t h e crystal class and Rockefeller Institute's Paul A . U . S . SCIENCE goes on display at the will be over 300 exhibits from 16 coun Weiss, the living cell class. T o p U. S. 1958 Brussels Universal and Interna tries. T h e newest scientific develop scientists a r e in each group. U. S. industry, t o o , is lending a help tional Exhibition. Special attention is ments a n d theories will b e pictured. ing hand. Estimates of t h e extent of being given t h e scientific section of the To this end, t h e display is grouped industrial participation r u n to over $ 1 fair. Science, says Belgian Commis around four subjects: million. Parts a n d other materials for sioner General Baron Moens d e Fernig, • The Atom—dealing with atomic exhibits a r e in m a n y cases being con benefits everyone, Purpose of the dis tributed b y industrial firms. In other play, he says, is to explain to t h e great physics. cases, top scientists employed in indus • The Molecule—dealing with chem est number of people what science try a r e taking time t o build exhibits for istry. means to humanity. For instance, Charles G . T h e Brussels World's Fair opens • The Crystal—dealing with solid the fair. Nickell plans cell nutrition display. April 17, 1958 a n d will close Oct. 17, state physics. T h e next step is a r e v i e w of t h e ex 1958. During these six months over • The Living Cell—dealing with biol hibits, scheduled t h r o u g h D e c . 7, a n d 35 million visitors are expected. ogy. finally, shipment t o Brussels starting T h e m e of the general U . S. exhibit is "A World View—A N e w Humanism," The four classes represent t h e funda D e c . 20. T h e Belgians h a v e asked that all displays b e installed in working the same theme as for the fair as a mental bases of science. whole. Cost of the fair will run over Aim of the fair organizers is to "cre order in Brussels by F e b . 15, 1 9 5 8 . $400 million. ate a coherent synthesis proceeding T w o months later, the "most complete • " U n i t y of Science." Housed in from the simple to t h e complex, point coordinated international science ex m the 2.5-acre International Science Hall ing out t h e unity of science a n d t h e in hibition ever u n d e r t a k e n " starts.
INTERNATIONAL
U. So Science Goes to α Fair
120
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SEPT.
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1957
Monsanto Decentralizes A significant reorganization at Mon santo Chemicals, Ltd., is under way. Designed to increase efficiency of custo mer and after-sales service, the change will also enable the company to p a y greater attention to production, re search, and technical matters. Opera tions will be divided between two new divisions, the chemicals division and the plastics division. D . W. Mackie will direct the chemi cals division in addition to duties as managing director. J. W. Barrett h a s been appointed director of the plastics division. He will retain his duties as technical director. Mackie and Barrett will have over-all responsibility for all operations in their respective divisions, including coordination of production and engineering, sales, research, and personnel. The new chemicals division will han dle heavy and fine chemicals as its main products; the plastics division will han dle plastics, rubber chemicals, oil addi tives, and other technical chemicals. Monsanto Chemicals wholly owned subsidiary, Monsanto Plastics, Ltd., will no longer function because of the change to divisional organization.
India to Try U. S. Process India will soon try a lignite process ing method developed by the U. S. Bureau of Mines. Pilot-scale tests will be c o n d u c e d with a replica of t h e Bureau's equipment, furnished the In dian government by ICA. The project will be used to upgrade raw lignite from a large deposit at South Arcot, Madras. This would provide fuel for generating low-cost pGwer in the area. Tests b y the Bureau at its Denver, Colo., labora tories show that despite a high mois ture content, the lignite may provide the impetus for expanding industrializa tion in India's Madras area, short of nearby fuel supplies. The Indian lignite, according to tests, can be processed into a low-moisture fuel which can be briquetted without a binder to make a product for both in dustrial and home use. This is done by use of an "entrained state" dryer in which powdered lignite is dried while suspended in a hot gas stream. The dried lignite can also be carbon ized by the Bureau's fluidized-bed proc ess to give 25 to 40 gallons of crude tar and about 1300 pounds of char per ton.
• Norway's
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calls for an experimental reactor sched uled to start operation early in 1958. It will be designed to produce process steam suitable for wood pulp mills a n d other industrial uses. It will not b e u,sed to produce electric power. T h e U. K. Atomic Energy Authority and t h e Norwegian Institute for Atomic Energy have signed an agreement to cooperate in the project—the authority supplying t h e initial uranium fuel charge. The in stitute and the authority will also coop erate in a research program to develop suitable fuel elements for later charges. The agreement gives the U. K. author ity access to the reactor design and to operating experience obtained. • Two new deposits of pyrochlore—
which yields niobium—have been found in the southern province of Nyasaland, according to a government geological survey. There are now four known d e posits of pyrochlore in the territory; further investigations will b e necessary before it is known whether the deposits will b e of any real economic impor tance. • Shell Petroleum, Ltd., will build a new deepwater oil terminal a t Punta Gorda, Venezuela, for collection, stor age, a n d shipping of crude oil produced both in Lake Maracaibo and the east shore. The project is expected to cost $84 million and to be completed in t w o years. Terminal will have an initial throughput capacity of around 700,000 barrels per day with a storage capacity of 4 million barrels. The port will b e able to handle supertankers and will b e capable of future expansion if required. • Republic of Panama has granted a ooreession to United Fruit Co. whereby it will acquire rights to explore for p e troleum over an area of more than a million acres. Concession is located in Chiriqui Province on Panama's Pacific coast. IJnited Fruit, doing business in this area of Panama for many years, says decision to move into petroleum exploration activities was made after much study and expert advice. • Australia's CSR Chemicals has com pleted an agreement with British Celanese to build a new vinyl acetate mono mer plant to cost $1,250,000. Plant is expected to be in full operation by end of 1958. No vinyl acetate monomer is currently produced in Australia; CSR Chemicals will probably b e the first to produce it.
