ACS
NEWS
Utilization of Retired Chemists Panel discussion at ACS national meeting treats problem of the creative use of skills of the retired chemist For some chemists, retirement is a reward; for others it brings unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Because the social evil of early retirement is becoming more and more a problem, the ACS Council Committee on Professional Relations and Status is investigating ways in which to utilize more effectively the training and ability of chemists who have reached retirement age. For this purpose, the committee organized a symposium and panel discussion at the national meeting in New York. Following is a summary of the symposium. Dr. Bernard S. Friedman of Sinclair Research, secretary of the ACS Council Committee on Professional Relations and Status, introduced the discussion by pointing out that since chemists are concerned about the way the chemist prepares for and enters the profession, how he performs and how he is regarded as a member of the profession, he should also be concerned with the manner and circumstances of his being retired from the profession. The "new disease" of early, forced retirement not only pushes a man into uselessness, sometimes at the height of his career; it also means a loss of valuable experience and manpower to the profession. ACS Survey. Dave Roethel, of the ACS Public, Professional, and Member Relations Division staff, reported on a survey of a small group of ACS members conducted by the Council Committee on Professional Relations and Status last year (C&EN, April 22, page 7 2 ) .
The purpose of this study was threefold: to learn members' reactions to the suggestion that special research centers be set up for retired chemists; to learn if most chemists wanted to continue working after retirement or whether they looked forward to retirement as an opportunity to pursue other avocations; and to establish whether older members of the Society felt the ACS should study the utilization of retired chemists and assist them in some way. Of the 165 members surveyed, 45% returned their questionnaires. On the question of moving to a research community, opinion was almost evenly divided; those opposed to the idea stressed the difficulty of pulling up roots in later years. On the question of complete dissociation from the field after retirement, 69% indicated they wanted to continue working in the profession; the others planned to use the time for other pursuits. And a strong majority thought the Society should study the problem of the chemist facing retirement. Among the latter's suggestions were: establishment of a special clearing house for retirees, similar to ECH; helping younger chemists to set up long-range orientation programs or develop avocations; providing research grants for older scientists to work on ideas and projects they were unable to pursue during their careers; setting up a Senior Research Corps of chemists who could be hired as consultants; surveying a larger group of members, including those not yet at the retirement age.
This article is a summary of a panel discussion held at the ACS national meeting in New York. Participants were Dr. Bernard S. Friedman, secretary of the ACS Council Committee on Professional Relations and Status, presiding; David A. H. Roethel, manager of professional and government relations for the ACS Public, Professional, and Member Relations Division staff; Dr. A. P. Julien, former chief of research at Solvay Process Division, Allied Chemical; Dr. Charles S. Venahle, former director of chemical research at American Viscose; and Dr. Per K. Frolich, former vice president of Merck à- Co. 152
C&EN
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Research Center. Dr. A. P. Julien, former chief of research at the Solvay Process Division of Allied Chemical, outlined his plan for a research center for retired chemists now under consideration at Asheville-Biltmore College, Asheville, N.C. Dr. Julien envisioned a research building, in a "desirable retirement climate," comprising one-man labs and offices, which individuals would rent for the minimum needed to cover maintenance and amortization. Supplemental services, such as patent counsel, special facilities, and library, would be financed by a fund built up from a share of patent rights and royalties received on work done at the lab (as is now done at Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation). With a reasonable number of productive people, such a project should be self-supporting in a few years. And it could mean employment for retirees in other fields—librarians, mechanics, and the like. Each chemist renting lab space would contract to divert a share of his future earnings or royalties to the nonprofit parent organization. Since each man's productivity would contribute to the benefit of all, his associates would freely give him help and stimulation. As he would be renting space, each man could work at his own pace and on his own time. With this plan, Dr. Julien first approached two large foundations for financial backing. He was unsuccessful because, he believes, it involved a sizable capital expenditure in a field in which they had no precedent for making grants. Dr. Julien selected Asheville, N . C , as the site for his proposed lab, because of its central location and mild year-round climate. The Asheville Chamber of Commerce received his idea enthusiastically, but potential backers required an assurance that enough retirees were interested in the project. A two-column display ad in three issues of C&EN in December 1962 produced too few replies to warrant a go-ahead. However, a local attorney suggested that there might be mutual advantages if the lab were tied in with AshevilleBiltmore College, and the final decision is now up to the college trustees. Dr. Julien stressed that the Society should direct its attention to those chemists who are still two or more years from retirement. It was members of this group who replied to his
ads; only one reply came from a chemist already retired. Any major undertaking such as his project would take two or more years to set up. He suggested the Society might assemble and distribute information of interest to chemists approaching re tirement and build up to a clearing house, in which mailing lists could be supplied to anyone with a worthwhile project of interest to retiring chem ists, and in turn be able to put the re tirees in touch with the projects that could use their special skills. TEAM Approach. Dr. Charles S. Venable, former director of chemical research at American Viscose, reported on TEAM, Inc. (Technically Experi enced Associates, Mobilized), a group of retired research executives who vol unteer their services for the public good. The TEAM idea came from a former vice president of Jones and Laughlin Steel who, along with his colleagues, deplored both the waste of valuable technical experience and the "human erosion" created by industry compul sory retirement programs. The non profit association, which was chartered in New York State in 1959, is made up of retired scientists and engineers who donate part of their time to govern ment and social agencies acting in the public welfare. TEAM has no re search facilities; its purpose is to ad vise in matters of research manage ment, scientific and technical educa tion, conservation and development of natural and human resources, and na tional defense. All members are registered with a central office, and agencies that might wish to use the TEAM services are notified. When a request is received, TEAM members in that specialty are canvassed and a contract is arranged with the agency. Under the terms of the contract, TEAM members donate their time and experience,
