208 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 3 8 



attention of a team of research workers. If rapid progress is to be 

 made, such team work is likely to be a feature of the more elaborate 

 researches in the future. Fortunately there is still plenty of scope for 

 the individual research worker in many experiments of a simpler land. 

 The science of physics now covers such a vast field that it is impos- 

 sible for any laboratory to provide up-to-date facilities for research in 

 more than a few of its branches. There is a growing tendency in our 

 research laboratories today to specialize in those particular branches 

 of physics in which they are most interested or specially equipped. 

 Such a division of the field of research amongst a number of universi- 

 ties has certain advantages, provided that this subdivision is not car- 

 ried too far. In general, the universities should be left free so far as 

 possible to develop their own lines of research and encouraged to 

 train young investigators, for it cannot be doubted that vigorous 

 schools of research in pure science are vital to any nation if it wishes 

 to develop effectively the application of science, whether to agriculture, 

 industry or medicine. Since investigations in modern science are 

 sometimes costly, and often require the use of expensive apparatus 

 and large-scale collaboration, it is obviously essential that adequate 

 funds should be available to the universities to cover the cost of such 

 researches. 



