66 burgess: science and after- war period 



Forming what is perhaps the natural corollary to the foregoing, 

 there has been some serious discussion in Britain of the desira- 

 bility of having representatives of science as such in Parliament; 

 certain of the universities have had representation for a long 

 time but it is doubtful if the matter of representatives of science 

 is pushed seriously. If science, why not literature, the arts, and 

 so on? 



While we are considering the question of the scientific man 

 himself, there is one phase of his relation to science and to in- 

 dustry that I cannot pass by, which will need perhaps even more 

 serious consideration in this transition period than it has had 

 in the past. I refer to the bidding for his services by technical 

 industries. A man who leaves the university or professional 

 school and enters the research department of an industrial 

 concern is not the man I mean. Is not the case different for 

 a man who has chosen his career of scientific investigation in 

 a university or other scientific institution independent of or 

 under state control ? This man, if taken from his environment by 

 offers of financial gain, goes to enrich most certainly some special 

 interest with his science and is still a valuable member of the 

 community; but generally speaking, is it not of advantage to 

 the community to keep that man contented in his, what I am 

 tempted to call, more natural environment? Natural, for he 

 chose it and adapted himself to it. When the staff of an in- 

 stitution of the character of the Geophysical Laboratory is in 

 danger of being absorbed by industry, does not the matter 

 become of serious concern? Should not the industries rather 

 be encouraged to take their scientific men when they are young 

 and not break up going scientific concerns? No doubt a certain 

 amount of interchange in scientific personnel is to be encouraged 

 but it should be interchange and not bleeding practiced by 

 industry. Providing an adequate supply of scientifically trained 

 men for the needs of industry, and defining the proper relations 

 between industrial management and scientific centers, are 

 questions meriting the most serious concern of the community. 

 Our supply of scientifically and technically trained men is all 



