SWEATING THE SCIENTIST 



In the four last numbers of Science Progress a notice has 

 been inserted asking for information on the emoluments of 

 scientific workers ; and a considerable number of interesting 

 replies have been received. They are not numerous enough 

 to form a basis for any statistical investigation of the subject — 

 which it is hoped may be attempted later on when more 

 evidence has been collected; but the replies received, combined 

 with information which may be otherwise obtained, suffice to 

 prove the low scale of payment given throughout the British 

 Empire for such work. 



The term " scientific worker " includes, according to the 

 notice, all salaried workers — that is, men of all grades, namely, 

 research students, assistants, professors, directors of labora- 

 tories, and other fully paid workers, and also half-time and 

 whole-time workers. The duties generally include teaching 

 and the administrative charge of university departments, 

 museums, and special laboratories. The lowest scale of pay 

 mentioned in the replies is £85 a year for half-time work ; but 

 it is notorious that a large number of such workers, especially 

 in medical subjects, are paid nothing at all. The pay of junior 

 posts (which are also sometimes unpaid) rises from about £120 

 to £200, £250, and, rarely, £300 a year. These are of course 

 not so important as the upper scales of pay for full-time pro- 

 fessorships and permanent appointments. For the latter, the 

 highest pay mentioned in the replies amounts to ^850 a year, 

 with a small pension (Ceylon). The next highest are salaries 

 °f £75°j b°th in South Africa, and one of .£500 in Canada, 

 with small pensions generally contributed to by the holders 

 of the appointments. It is well known that many professor- 

 ships in Britain yield £600 a year, with very small con- 

 tributory pensions. In no cases do there appear to be any 

 arrangements for family pensions in the event of the holders' 

 death — such as are often provided in the public services ; nor 

 insurance against illness or accident. Notoriously, very few 



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