PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 1/ 



and the attitude of such towards research, the Committee sum- 

 marises the conditions for the success of its work as : " First, 

 a larg'ely increased supply of competent researchers ; secondly, 

 a hearty spirit of co-operation amongst all concerned, men of 

 science, men of business, working men, professional and scientific 

 societies, universities and technical colleges, local authorities 

 and Government departments " " And neither condition will be 

 elTective without the other," it adds. The report shows that 

 before the war the output of the Universities was altogether in- 

 sufficient to meet even a moderate expansion in the demand for 

 research. The war has depleted them of their students and 

 teachers, and the view is expressed that the number of trained 

 research workers, who will be available at the end of the war, 

 will not suf^ce for the demand vv^hich they hope will then exist. 



A Board of Education Committee, in a report issued last 

 July, declares that to stint education, study, or research, would 

 be the worst of all possible forms of economy, and that it is 

 certain unless more effort, more thought, and even more money 

 are spent upon education after the war than before, we shall not 

 regain or retain our place among the nations. On its recom- 

 mendation a huge sum has been set aside for scholarships, both 

 for secondary and university education, but stress is laid upon 

 the necessity of managers of industrv and commerce recognising 

 the value of scientific training in their advisers and as an impor- 

 tant qualification for directive posts. 



While making it clear that research in pure science should 

 be as much their care as research in applied science, the British 

 Advisory Council decided to give science, in its application to 

 industry, precedence over pure science in their deliberations, and 

 that any effective encouragement of pure science must await the 

 return of peace. 



" The Universities," the report says, " can and must be the 

 main sources of research in pure science, the discoveries of 

 which lie at the root of practical and technical application. Yet 

 Universities will not be able to do their fair share of this vital 

 service unless they can attract more students and larger funds. 

 . Unless our Universities are in a position to offer 

 appointments which carry with them real freedom from finan- 

 cial anxiety, it is certain that their teachers will not, because 

 they cannot, take the leading part which they should in tlie 

 national contributions to knowledge." 



In discussing the important question as to whether the 

 Universities can undertake industrial research work, attention is 

 drawn to the research dejDartments, which have been established 

 by large American firms, and to the research institutes of Ger- 

 many, which ]3rovide for special investigations of a longer or 

 more elaborate kind than those which can be undertaken l)y 

 University students and teachers. 



" The fact is," the rei)ort stated, " that althouR-h the Gemian 

 Universities and technical schools have been able in the past to 



