L. C. DUNN 



both the natural and the social sciences, including the training of young 

 scientists and the dissemination of scientific information. This fusion 

 of the efforts of statesmen and scholars is a fact of the first importance 

 and transcends in its significance for the future the particular provi- 

 sions for support which are now under discussion. There is no doubt 

 that the atomic bomb greatly accelerated the speed with which scien- 

 tists and legislators were approaching each other and the swift realiza- 

 tion of the significance of science on the part of the public created the 

 atmosphere in which progress could be made. 



As a result of these recent events I think it can be said that the pub- 

 lic, through its representatives, has now acknowledged that the support 

 of science is a public responsibility, to be assumed in a broad and perma- 

 nent form through a new agency of government to be known as a Na- 

 tional Science Foundation. This foundation will resemble the Board 

 of Scientific Research described in earlier paragraphs of this article, 

 but will have even broader powers since it will include a Division of 

 Social Sciences, and provisions for the training of young scientists and 

 for international collaboration in science which go beyond those pre- 

 viously suggested. 



It appears that there is now substantial agreement among scien- 

 tists concerning the major purposes and functions of this Foundation, al- 

 though there is still some reluctance to grant that the administration of 

 the Foundation should be primarily responsible to the government 

 rather than to scientists. 



However, it has now become so clear that the aggressive advance- 

 ment of fundamental scientific knowledge is a primary condition for the 

 maintenance of democratic government and for the attainment of a 

 good society that we may confidently expect methods to evolve in prac- 

 tice by which public control may be exercised without unduly limit- 

 ing the freedom which science needs. The attainment of this goal will 

 be hastened if scientists, acknowledging their public responsibility, will 

 build the means, through a guild or federation with a social purpose, 

 by which their influence on public policy can be brought to bear. 



486 



