DISCUSSION OF SCIENCE LEGISLATION 19 



than does our government. Even during the middle of the war in the 

 Siberian town of Novosibersk where the population grew in a few years 

 from 80,000 to 900,000 a large opera house seating 3000 people was con- 

 structed even though there was then inadequate housing for war workers. 

 In this opera house performances of opera, concerts, etc., were given 

 which were of the same extraordinarily high quality of those that we saw 

 in Moscow. Similarly, the government sees that books of cultural value 

 are available at low prices and in enormous numbers. 



Everywhere among the scientists in Russia I found a deep love for 

 science itself. It was, of course, recognized that science was of great im- 

 portance because of its applications, but the cultural value of pure science 

 seemed to be considered of equal moment. 



As illustrating the importance attached to science I quote from an 

 article, "Science Serves the People" in the Moscow News. 



"never before has the scientist been accorded such attention by the 

 state and such esteem by society as in the Soviet Union." 

 "the state provides the maximum amenities of life and facilities for 

 work to the scientist and insures a comfortable life to his family after 

 his death." 



Now that the war is over the Russian government places A-i priority 

 on science. The Academy meetings, which lasted two weeks, were attended 

 by 1200 scientists, including over 100 foreign guests. At the meetings it 

 was stressed that the future growth and standard of living of Russia are 

 to be based primarily on pure science and its applications. The lavish 

 entertainment and the banquets, including one in the Kremlin attended by 

 Stalin, and the extraordinary publicity given to the meetings in the Rus- 

 sian newspapers emphasizes the great importance attached to science. 



I believe Russia is planning to embark on a program of scientific re- 

 search and development greater than that contemplated by any other 

 government. 



To me it was of particular interest to learn something of the way in 

 which the Russian government carries on its research "program. Their 

 reasoning appears to be as follows. 



They ask, "who should plan a scientific program? Why of course the 

 scientists. Who are the scientists? All of the most important ones are in 

 the Academy of Sciences." Therefore, the science program is turned over 

 to the Academy and the Academy is held responsible for its success. 



The Academy of Sciences of the USSR has 142 regular members and 

 200 corresponding members. I asked the difference between the regular 

 and corresponding members and was told that the corresponding members 

 get paid less. Later in the Moscozv News I read that the new members of 



