the EDITOR'S column L.T. Hallett, Editor
is imperative to the ultimate progress of man kind. But unfortunately, like everything else, the cost of basic research is continually increasing. More and more, the tools needed for arriving at a hypothesis are of far greater complexity than a piece of paper and a pencil; and, having arrived at a hypothesis, putting it to the test is almost certain to be far more complicated than climb ing a tower and dropping some weights. Thus, it was with a great deal of interest that we read the report entitled "A Program for Basic Research in the Physical Sci ences," issued recently by the Al fred P. Sloan Foundation. B A S I C RESEARCH
Three major points constitute the operating philosophy under which the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowships are granted. First, the program sup ports people, as opposed to projects or institutions. Support is given to people who work in educational in stitutions "where the general cli mate favored research." Second, it gives special consideration to younger scientists of marked promise. Third, grants are made for definite areas of research under specific individuals as opposed to broad departmental use. In support of these objectives, an initial sum of about $200,000 was allotted for the first year of opera tion. This was increased $200,000 each year to the current maximum level of $1 million. Since its incep tion in 1955, the program has sup ported research carried out by 182 fellows associated with some 55 uni versities and colleges. This concept of supporting people rather than projects is not new, as the report points out. But, aside from the medical and biological sciences, it had not been applied ex tensively in supporting research.
A Complete Glass Cutting Unit Welch HOT-WIRE GLASS-TUBING CUTTER Produces Clean, Straight Breaks Cuts Hard or Soft Glass with equal facility Glass tubing, bottles, or jars up to 3 inches in diameter can be cut neatly and quickly with this cutter. Soft glass, Pyrex-Brand Glass, or other hard-glass tubes can be cut with equal ease. The article is first encircled with a scratch made by a cutter wheel conveniently mounted on the side of the transformer, the scratch is heated by contact with the hot wire, and then cooled quickly by applying water or by blowing on it. Ko other equipment is required. The cutting wire is supported on two insulated posts and is heated by current from a 12-volt trans former serving as the base. No. 24 (B & S gauge) nichrome wire is used and is easily replaced. Three extra wires are included. By means of an adjust ment on the transformer, the current can be con trolled to give the optimum heat for whatever type of glass may be used. An instruction plate is mounted near this control. The unit operates on 115 volts, 50 or 60 cycle A.C. Over-all dimensions are 6 χ 4'Α χ 9 inches high.
Each, $42.50
No.
5210
THE WELCH SCIENTIFIC COMPANY ESTABLISHED 1880 1515 Sedgwick Street, Dept. A - 1 , Chicago 10, Illinois, U. S. A . Manufacturers
of Scientific
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Assures High Efficiency For Pennies T h e Langdon pump requires only 50 cc of ordinary S A E 30 motor oil which m a y be changed in seconds while pump is running. Y o u need never sacrifice pump efficiency due to costly oil changes.
LANGDON VACUUM PUMP
Easy to Maintain
35 liters per minute (free air) 50 microns ultimate vacuum
HEVI-DUTY
Β Ρ
A DIVISION OF HEVI-DUTY
T h e Langdon pump requires neither special tools nor training to clean or perform minor repairs. It can be disassembled and reassembled in 20 minutes. Write for free illustrated brochure and user list.
C
ELECTRIC
Industrial Furnaces and Ovens, Electric and Fuel
·
BASIC COMPANY,
Laboratory Furnaces
·
PRODUCTS
CORPORATION
MILWAUKEE Dry Type Transtormers
1, W I S C O N S I N ·
Constant Current Regulators
Circle No. 43 on Readers' Service Card VOL. 33, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 1901
·
111 A
The report does note, however, at least two programs involving un encumbered grants t h a t have been inaugurated in recent years. One of these, undertaken by the Research Corp. on an experimental basis, provides giants primarily to faculty members in liberal arts col leges. T h e other was started by the American Chemical Society's P e troleum Research F u n d two years ago. This provides unencumbered grants to selected academic scien tists in the amount of $50,000 each, to be spent at the recipient's dis cretion over a six-year period. T h e money m a y be used for fundamen tal research in a n y area of pure sci ence which m a y afford a basis for further research related t o the pe troleum field. How have these programs fared? The Sloan program, with five years of experience from which to draw conclusions, might reasonably be called a case s t u d y ; and, to be brief, foundation officials are obviously pleased. Also, the program has been much appreciated by the fel lows themselves and has been very well received by officials of the in stitutions concerned. But, satisfying as they are, these are not conclusive criteria upon which to base any judgment of the program's success. A more con vincing guideline to such judgment lies in the trends of the recipients' careers subsequent to their being granted the fellowships. And con vincing it is, indeed. Several Sloan fellows have received professional honors-one, D r . Elias J. Corey of the University of Illinois-was the 1960 winner of the ACS Award in Pure Chemistry. At least two have been elected to the National Acad emy of Sciences before they reached 31 years of age. All recipients on whom informa tion was received in a recent survey of 18 departmental chairmen were found to have advanced rapidly through the academic ranks. And it is interesting to note t h a t , of four newly created professorships in astronomy, chemistry, and m a t h e matics a t H a r v a r d University last year, three were filled by Sloan fel lows from other universities.
HEVI-DUTY "Multiple Unit"
CRUCIBLE FURNACES Temperatures to 2300° F. Designed for •
Melting Small Quantities of Metals
•
Pyrometer Calibrations
•
Heating All Materials Contained in Crucibles
Laboratory technicians using Hevi-Duty Crucible Furnaces find they give the de pendable service demanded by exacting re search. Improved insulation and sturdy, long-life heating element construction are a few of the advantageous features. MU CRUCIBLE FURNACES TO 1850° F.
Write for Bulletin 1246.
Chamber Heating
Type HOT CRUCIBLE FURNACES TO 2 3 0 0 ° HDT-304*
3"
χ 4"
HDT-506*
5"
χ 6"
HDT-812*
8"
χ 12"
|
Dia.
F.
$170.00* 270.00* 430.00*
•Requires α Transformer.
Furnace Price
Deep
82
2%"x4"
84
3"
χ 3'/,"
$ 47.50 58.00
86
3"
χ 5"
71.00
506
5"
χ 6"
110.00
FOR GENERAL AND SPECIALIZED LABORATORY APPLICATIONS
Hevi-Duty
"G-07-PT" FURNACE temperatures to 2600° F. This furnace is designed for high-temperature work where accurate control and uniform ity are important. Controls, which provide 48 temperature gradients, and an indicating pyrometer a r e located in t h e pyramid base. For greatest uni formity in the heating chamber, three heating elements are in stalled over a n d t h r e e a r e beneath the refractory muffle. Write for Bulletin 957 for full details. Type
Watts
G-07-PT
3500
Chamber W.
L.
H.
4"
7"
2VA"
Price $585.00
"Operating voltage either 115 or 2 3 0 A . C . only.
HEVI-DUTY
Β Ρ
A DIVISION OF HEVI-DUTY
c
ELECTRIC
Industrial Furnaces and Ovens, Electric and Fuel
·
BASIC
PRODUCTS
CORPORATION
C O M P A N Y . M I L W A U K E E 1, W I S C O N S I N
Laboratory Furnaces
·
Dry type Transformers
•
Constant Current Regulators
Circle No. 44 on Readers' Service Card VOL.
3 3 , N O . 2 , FEBRUARY
1961
·
1 1 3
A
There is another rewarding factor recognized in the Sloan report. I t points out t h a t m a n y superior schola r s leave their academic posts, b e cause of lure of high industrial salaries or frustration brought on by lack of a desirable t y p e of support for their research. T h e Sloan prog r a m appears to have bettered this situation, as indicated by the fact t h a t only one out of the 182 Sloan fellows thus far has left his academic appointment for an industrial position. I n recent years, except for the relatively minor financial help t h a t universities a n d colleges can t h e m selves supply, t h e academic scientist has h a d t o rely mainly on government a n d industrial r e sources for support of his research. Often these funds are given for work in specific areas or toward fairly specific objectives. Economic conditions often dictate this course of action for industrial givers. I n t e r n a t i o n a l competition often governs government grants. While planned research is desirable and essential, more uncommitted funds are needed to support basic research. I t is interesting t o observe the successful results obtained by the Sloan Foundation in the area of supporting promising individuals without regard to their specific project. These results m a y encourage others to support similar efforts. We would not wish to close out this column without t a k i n g cognizance of the extensive support being given to uncommitted research by the chemical industry. I t is often difficult to evaluate such contributions because the funds are often given t o academic institutions to use in w a y s t h e y see fit. A careful study, we feel, would show t h a t a considerable portion of these funds actually goes to promising individuals for basic research on projects selected by recipients M a n y research contracts awarded by government agencies, even though of a directed nature, are similar in t h a t they have their inception in proposals of research workers a n d often can be classified as basic research.
ETCHING A GERMANIUM WAFER WITH ELECTRONIC GRADE HF 5x m a g n i f i c a t i o n s h o w s t h e i m m e d i a t e e t c h i n g a c t i o n of H F o n a g e r m a n i u m w a f e r . . . t h e h i g h r e s i s t a n c e e l e m e n t in v a c u u m tubes, t r a n s i s t o r s a n d diode rectifiers
E L E C T R O N I C a n d R E A G E N T G R A D E ACIDS
CORCO C H E M I C A L Bristol, Pennsylvania
C O R P O R A T I O N STillwell
8-0464
Circle No. 128 on Readers' Service Card
DON'T STIR... WITHOUT KONTES Because tests prove Kontes stirrers superior. • Shaft-bearing clearances measured in ten-thousandths of an inch. This prevents vacuum loss, and makes all Kontes component parts interchangeable. • Even after vacuum operation over a period of time, there is no loss of lubricant—further evidence of a tight seal. • Virtually friction-free ground surfaces; diamond-honed bearings. • Borosilicate glass used in all parts for added strength and longer life. (Teflon stirrer blades available.) • Convenient lubricant reservoir on bearing top. • Inexpensive adapters permit connecting shafts to motors with chuck openings as small as W .
KONTES GLASS COMPANY Vineland, New Jersey First Choice For Quality Technical Glassware Midwest Distributor: Research Apparatus, Inc., Wauconda, III.
Circle No. 130 on Readers' Service Card
VOL. 33, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 1961
·
115 A
