Relation of the Federal Goveitiment to Research 



187 



in its speciKc field — seven to ten percent of the ablest. 

 This list would be kept on file in tlie agency and a 

 duplicate sent to some central agency, presumably the 

 Civil Service Commission. 



The National Councils Could Spon-'<or Starred 

 Scholars in All Fields.— It now seems probable that 

 the American Council of Learned Societies will sponsor 

 the publication periodically of a volume entitled Ameri- 

 can Sch^:>lars in the Hunianities and Social Sciences 

 which will supplement American Men of Science, the 

 two volumes including as nearly as possible all research 

 workers in the Nation. Such a publication would be 

 of great value in making generally available informa- 

 tion about the scholars in these fields. If a compre- 

 hensive list of the special fields of activities of all these 

 scholars were prepared and f the councils assumed 

 the duty of selecting to be starred the 8 to 12 percent 

 ablest in each field, it would be exceedingly useful to 

 the Government and to others. It would also be useful 

 if, further, as soon as a man passed 65 years of age 

 his name were double starred and all single-starred 

 men were 65 or younger. New editions of such a pub- 

 lication every 5 years would keep this list pretty well 

 up to date. When notice is taken of the fact that names 

 in American Men of Science are listed in some 250 

 special fields and that for starring they are grouped 

 in only 12 fields, and further that of these 12, 5, physi- 

 ology, anatomy, pathology, astronomy, and anthro- 

 pology, are rather small fields, it is apparent that a 

 much larger number of fields would make starring sim- 

 pler and the lists of starred men more useful. Possibly 

 Government financial help could be secured to enable 

 the national coimcils to sponsor the selection of the 

 men to be starred. 



Improvement of the Leadership in Research 



Several agencies, already active in some degi-ee, could 

 markedly advance research if their leadership activi- 

 ties could be broadened and increased. 



Committees of the Councils. — Some committees of 

 each of the councils are very effective and are doing 

 most useful work. Others are quite inactive. The 

 chief deterrent in many cases is lack of funds (1) to 

 employ permanent executive leaders within the coun- 

 cils; (2) to meet the expenses of committee meetings; 

 and (3) to provide small grants to stimulate certain 

 work in the respective fields. It appears higlily prob- 

 able that the active effective leadership of these councils 

 could and should be increased. If money will do it, 

 either foundation or Federal fiinds are badly needed 

 here. 



Faculty Committees on Research. — Every institu- 

 tion where faculty committees on research are set up 

 and where they have some funds at their disposal re- 



ports very interesting progress. These committees are 

 quite acceptable to faculty members. They usually 

 get at the actual facts more accurately than it is pos- 

 sible for any college official to do. The very general 

 organization or appointment of such conunittees seems 

 most desirable. Each committee should have some 

 money available for distribution by it and it is re- 

 markable how much even a very small fund so dis- 

 tributed can accomplish. 



Directors of Research Organizations Within the 

 Universities. — A study of the leadership of the direc- 

 tors of the agricultural experiment stations reveals 

 great variation in the quality of leadership in research. 

 Some stations over a period of years have turned out 

 a much larger volume of research and research on a 

 higher level than others. While certainly this differ- 

 ence is not all chargeable to the director, much of it 

 is due to his plamiing and organizing the work, select- 

 ing able staff members, and developing a fine esprit 

 de corps. Much more would be accomplished through- 

 out all separately organized research units if the direc- 

 tors were all equal to their responsibilities. The im- 

 ]>ortance of adequate leadership that is sympathetic 

 and helpful cannot be overstressed. 



University and College Presidents. — Any broad sur- 

 vey of universities and colleges emphasizes how much 

 depends on the breadth of view, understanding, and 

 helpfulness of the presidents. This is peculiarly true 

 of their attitude toward research. Many are wholly 

 Ignorant of its importance either in itself or in its 

 influence on professor and student. Many men are 

 drafted into these difficult positions who have had no 

 ciose contact with research but would readily support 

 it if they grasped its importance in an educational 

 ijistitution. It remains for the men on the faculty 

 interested in research to win the interest of the presi- 

 dent in this work, rather than condemn him for lack 

 of interest which he has never had a chance to develop. 



Boards of Trustees. — Undoubtedly much of the prog- 

 less of the great universities in research has been due 

 to the intelligent support of the trustees. Such sup- 

 port is dependent on the understanding of the signifi- 

 cance of research by a majority of the trustees and their 

 willingness to follow the lead of the president and 

 deans in supporting this work. The trustees of most 

 American colleges need much education in the value 

 and importance of research, and they are entitled to 

 such education. Their instructors must be the presi- 

 dent, deans, and professors. The research under way 

 should be of such interest that it can be explained to 

 the members of the board in a way that will command 

 tbeir interest and support. 



