275 
TRAINING RESEARCH CHEMISTS IN INDIANA. 
E. G. Manin, Purdue University. 
During the few years just past we have heard it stated, and many times 
reiterated, that scientific research is the one all important activity for 
national progress, national achievement and national self-preservation. 
The lessons of the great war pointed unmistakably to this conclusion and 
an impetus has been given to research in a multitude of fields. One result 
of this has been a growth of confidence on the part of scientific leaders 
and a feeling that this one great lesson of the war would never be for- 
gotten. Buta similar confidence has been felt that other lessons of the war 
would not be forgotten. It was said that we were learning thrift. self-denial 
and self-sacrifice, economical habits of living, altruism and other splendid 
things. And yet with the relaxation of tension after the close of the great 
international struggle we, as a nation, plunged into a riot of extravagance 
and wastefulness such as we had probably never before known. It has 
even seemed probable that we were relapsing into a permanent state of 
national selfishness and aloofness from the troubles of the rest of the world. 
Can it be that we are now to lose also the research spirit. to lapse into the 
mere “business as usual” habit of considering of value only the investiga- 
tion that makes for immediate profit? 
Whatever the answer to this question may be, it is generally conceded that 
scientific research cannot go on, either with or without material support, 
unless we can somehow continue to give to an intelligent and able body of 
men and women who have shown special aptitude for this kind of work, 
special training in the necessary methods of scientific investigation and, 
at the same time, to inspire them with enthusiasm for this high sort of 
endeavor. Quoting from a recent circular issued by the National Research 
Council, “It” (the Council) “hopes - - - - to encourage the interest of 
universities and colleges in research work and workers so that the inspir- 
ation and training of American youth for scientific work may never fall 
so low as to threaten to interrupt the constantly needed output of well- 
trained and devoted scientific talent in the land”. 
This brings us, at once, to the examination of the question of what things 
are necessary to provide opportunity for such training and of what we in 
Indiana are now doing in the way of providing this opportunity. 
I have a notion that what I am here to say will apply in considerable 
measure to nearly all branches of pure and applied science. But In order 
to forestall, if possible, certain criticisms that I might, through ignorance, 
be unable to meet, I shall confine myself to the one matter covered by the 
subject of this paper: the training of chemists for research. 
My first proposition is that such procedure must be based upon a very 
broad and thorough drill in the fundamentals of the science. No chem- 
ical research problem, however narrow or limited in its application it may 
seem to be, can be investigated with efficiency and thoroughness by one 
who has only a smattering of basic laws and facts, of this and of related 
sciences. He will almost immediately find himself balked by ignorance of 
scientific principles, following false trails or endeavoring to obtain experi- 
