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THE SPIRIT OF RESEARCH 



"Research means different things to people in different walks 

 of life. American industry does not need to be convinced of the 

 importance of research. On every hand we see what patient 

 fact-finding has done to improve everyday existence. The laborer 

 of today enjoys luxuries denied kings less than 50 years ago. 

 largely through contributions of science to the conveniences of 

 life, which most of us already regard as necessities. The skeptic 

 may tell you that research consists of proving the obvious in a 

 most thorough manner by laborious means. The most funda- 

 mental requisite of a research project is the idea. A disciplined 

 imagination is at the bottom of every great discovery. The 

 researcher must be looking for something. He may not know 

 exactly what he is looking for, but he knows enough about the 

 situation to recognize the presence of an unsolved problem. A 

 person with an idea and who also possesses a capacity for critical 

 analysis is at least partially equipped to solve the problem. If, 

 in addition, he is a master of a method or procedure which can 

 be used in the investigation, the chances of success are even more 

 promising. Frequently, however, these two abilities are not 

 associated in the same person. The obvious conclusion, there- 

 fore, is that for the most successful prosecution of research, it is 

 necessary to combine the talents of two or more scientists or 

 technologists, so that a fusion of effort may more speedily yield 

 success to the research project. 



Research is still an open field with opportunity for all — both 

 the brilliant scholar and the industrious plugger. Research 

 builds on foundations already constructed by others who have 

 gone before. Sir Isaac Newton paid a lasting tribute to his 

 predecessors when he said that if he saw a little farther than 

 others it was because he stood on giant shoulders. The challenge 

 is ours to provide the shoulders on which the future investigator 

 will stand and from which he, in turn, will peer beyond the 

 present horizons of knowledge into the great unknown. That 

 is the spirit of research." 



—Carl R, Fellers 



Part oj an address delivered by Dr. Carl R. Fellers. Head of the Food Technology 

 Department, when he was presented the Stephen Babcock Award in 1950 /or his 

 notable contributions in the field of food technology. 



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