Resolutions Passkd by the Council 109 



Resolution Reaffirming the Relation of the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science to Human Welfare 



Adopted by the Council, December 29, 1934 



Whereas, The objective of science is knowledge of man and of the world in which 

 he lives ; and 



Whereas, Upon this knowledge is based man's opportunity to live more intelli- 

 gently, to work more effectively and to experience greater comfort and satisfaction ; and 



Whereas, The justification of the work and purposes of the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science is found in the contributions of this work to human 

 welfare ; and 



Whereas, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, founded in 

 i8-<8 and incorporated in 1874, with its 18,000 members and 141 associated societies 

 covering the entire field of pure and applied science including sociology, economics and 

 education, and with its administrative offices in the Smithsonian Institution of Washing- 

 ton has been and is well and permanently organized to administer funds for the ad- 

 vancement of science ; therefore be it 



Resolved, That the American Association for the Advancement of Science is prepared 

 to accept and administer additional funds for the advancement of science and the pro- 

 motion of national welfare. 



Resolution for Governmental Support of Scientific Work 



Adopted by the Council, December 29, 1934 



Whereas, Development and application of science have been basic to the economic 

 and social progress of nations, making possible such movements as universal education, 

 abolition of child labor and slavery, emancipation of women, insurance and pensions, 

 moderate hours of labor and great improvement in the standards of health, comfort and 

 satisfaction in living; and 



Whereas, Scientific developments have not only conferred general social benefits, 

 but in particular have been largely effective in leading to recovery from previous de- 

 pressions, — as the railroad industry following the depression of 1870, the electric in- 

 dustry following that of 1896 and the automobile industry following that of 1907; and 



Whereas, Scientific research is a productive investment proven by experience to 

 yield a high rate of return, as illustrated by the saving of $2,000,000,000 per year from 

 the Bessemer Steel process and of over $1,000,000 per day from the modern incan- 

 descent lamp, and as illustrated also by the entire chemical, electrical, communication, 

 transportation and metallurgical industries and by the enormous employment in such 

 industries ; and 



Whereas, Progressive foreign nations have recognized the importance of maintain- 

 ing their scientific strength at a high productive level and have provided for this main- 

 tenance by allocation of funds to support scientific work on a national scale ; and 



Whereas, There now exists in America a situation demanding as never before an in- 

 telligent use of our national resources ; and 



Whereas, There are manifold problems in health, safety, agriculture, better use of 

 resources, development of new products and processes whose social value and urgent 

 need are unquestioned but whose solution is being seriously hampered by lack of funds 

 for research, which have been greatly curtailed at this time when properly directed 

 scientific work is more than ever needed; and 



