20 PHENOMENA, ATOMS, AND MOLECULES 



the Academy are elected by secret ballot by the members ; corresponding 

 members have a "voice" but no vote. 



Dr. Joffe, head of the Physical Institute in Leningrad, read a paper 

 before the Academy entitled, "Can Science Be Planned ?" He said, "This 

 question has long evoked heated argument and still continues to do so 

 abroad. There are people who complain that the fulfillment of any plan 

 is incompatible with the private initiative of the scientist. He then goes 

 on to say that in Russia where the government renders an all-out aid to 

 scientists it has been found possible to plan scientific work without suffer- 

 ing these disadvantages. 



It is clear, however, that Joffe believes in planning only along very 

 general lines. He says, for example, "a plan in science is only a guide to 

 the researcher as to where to begin and what to aim for. There can be no 

 question of its fulfillment the way a factory fulfills its plan ; a scientist 

 does not work for the plan but the plan is called upon to help the scientist." 

 He says that research frequently develops along unexpected lines and is 

 then often necessary to alter the original plans or perhaps abandon them 

 completely. 



As an illustration of planning in science Joffe says that in May, 1930 

 he and his colleagues became convinced that "it was essential to begin 

 work on the atomic nucleus. We were all worried, however, because it 

 was the middle of the year and the appropriations for our work had 

 already been made." Although the new researches would require an expen- 

 diture of several hundred thousand rubles, Joffe was able in 10 minutes 

 to get the chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy to 

 agree to the extra appropriation. "Once started, we have continued work 

 on the atomic nucleus for 15 years as an essential part of our plan." 



Coinparison of Science Programs of USSR and U.S.A. I am sure we 

 in America would not like Russian methods, and I don't suggest that we 

 adopt them. We must recognize, however, that the methods used in 

 Russia appear to be particularly well adapted to the conditions there and 

 they give every promise of being effective in accomplishing their avowed 

 purposes. It behooves us to find our own American ways of obtaining 

 equally good results. In summarizing I would like to give the following list 

 of characteristics of the Russian system which we need to consider. 



The Russians give the impression of being a strong, rough people 

 with the spirit of pioneers. They are proud of their accomplishments 

 during this war. 



They have a remarkable system of incentives. 



They have no unemployment. 



They have no strikes. 



