426 THE NEW WORLD OF SCIENCE 



country. It is hoped on the basis of the results of this study 

 that it may be possible to suggest methods of improving fa- 

 cilities for research and its conduct. 



To mention but a single point illustrative of the possibilities 

 in this direction, attention may be called to the present entire 

 lack of cooperation and mutual understanding among the uni- 

 versities of the country regarding the development of research 

 facilities, both in equipment and in personnel. At present, 

 it may be said to be the common ambition among the stronger 

 ilniversities to develop research in practically every direction 

 of science. This policy, if continued unmodified, is bound to 

 lead to the most wasteful expenditure by the needless dupli- 

 cation of costly plants and the multiplication of personnel, con- 

 siderable portions of which will necessarily be of inferior 

 quality. While in some branches of science, it may for a long 

 time to come be difficult to produce the necessary number of 

 trained research workers, and while in these cases multiplica- 

 tion of facilities is not likely to be wholly unwarranted, there 

 are many lines of scientific work in which a small number of 

 institutions would be entirely adequate to produce the necessary 

 personnel, and to carry forward a justifiable amount of scien- 

 tific research. Only on the basis, however, of some mutual 

 understanding among the authorities of these institutions can 

 it be hoped that a saner and a more judicious program can be 

 adopted. It is not altogether Utopian to hope that the National 

 Research Council may be of assistance in focusing public 

 opinion upon this issue, and in stimulating definite and progres- 

 sive action. Unlike most of the other agencies concerned, the 

 Council occupies an entirely disinterested attitude, and is in a 

 position to assist in deciding upon the intrinsic merits of the 

 case. 



In addition to certain members chosen at large to represent 

 a broad diversity of interests and certain representatives of 

 other Divisions of the Council, the Division is at present com- 

 posed of representatives of the following associations, i. e., the 

 Association of American Colleges, the National Association of 



