4 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



It does not seem advisable in this report to attempt an outline of 

 all past work in our many departments. There does seem to be appro- 

 priateness in consideration of the position of the Institution as a 

 whole with reference to other kinds of agencies with which we cooperate 

 in the effort to make knowledge advance at a rate sufficient to keep 

 pace with human needs. 



The fact that the Carnegie Institution of Washington is devoted to 

 fundamental investigations is sometimes understood to mean that its 

 problems are therefore identical with those of other investigating 

 organizations. Although this is true in the generic sense, each of the 

 several types of research activities in this country has its peculiar 

 problem. The kinds of work overlap, but each body has an individ- 

 uality and should have a special function making possible a special 

 contribution. It is this differentiation in purpose that, with full co- 

 operation, makes possible the greatest advances in knowledge. 



While it is the part of scientific efficiency to encourage concentration 

 of certain research institutions upon particular questions, it is improb- 

 able that we shall ever make the assumption that any one of these has 

 exclusive rights to any special subject. However this type of differen- 

 tiation may shape itself, it will always be desirable to have among the 

 various research bodies a general difference in attitude toward prob- 

 lems. It is in this aspect of definition or function that we can see most 

 clearly how the Carnegie Institution is to meet its peculiar obligations 

 without destructive competition and without hindrance to other work. 



In universities the indispensable element of research must always 

 have such free range as will make it possible for the instructor to keep 

 a vivid interest in the constructive use of knowledge and thus be able 

 to develop this attitude in his students. But universities deal by 

 definition with the whole breadth of knowledge and must work con- 

 tinuously in all the major groups of subjects. It is therefore inevitable 

 that under normal conditions research support in these institutions 

 will be rather evenly distributed over the whole range of subjects in 

 the curriculum, with relatively small opportunity for stress in any one 

 field. The great and competent government service agencies give 

 themselves with increasing measure to consideration of research prob- 

 lems. Presumably this emphasis will grow as the possibility and need 

 of new knowledge become clearer. In general the activities of this 

 group of departments will naturally be distributed over fields in which 

 there is direct demand for the early solution of problems relating to 

 present needs of the community. The laboratories of industrial organ- 

 izations have come to be among the most powerful agents in use and 

 in support of research. Their activities are directed toward all 



