THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA 5 



In speaking of science, therefore, I shall use the term in its 

 broadest sense, without regard to whether its benefits to man- 

 kind will accrue today or tomorrow, within this generation or 

 the next. Before technical science can be developed soundly, 

 it will be necessary to lay the broad foundation of pure sci- 

 ence. The pure science of Gilbert, of Galvani, of Volta, of 

 Cavendish and of Faraday, embodied the technical applications 

 of electricity today ; the pure science of Carnot, of Clausius and 

 of Gibbs, embodied the technical applications of chemistry of 

 which we hear so much today and of which we shall hear more 

 tomorrow. That branch of pure science which is comprised 

 in what is known as radiactive phenomena today, will surely 

 serve as foundation for a new technical science in the future, 

 the nature of which we cannot now foresee, but whose import- 

 ance will doubtless surpass our most sanguine expectations. 



Using the term science in this sense, and granting that the 

 importance of its development is acknowledged, let us examine 

 the probable future of science in America. The topic is all 

 the more timely, since, in large measure, the development of 

 science abroad has been forcibly arrested, and it may be a long 

 time before normal conditions are restored. In the meantime, 

 we are thrown on our own resources in a much larger measure 

 than heretofore in providing training and inspiration to the 

 rising generation of scientists. It would be a fine thing too, 

 if at this time, when other nations have been forced to stay 

 their development of science, we in America were to take up 

 the task which they have let fall and should extend the field 

 of knowledge beyond its present borders. Then we might repay 

 in some small measure the debt we owe to foreign science for 

 what we have so freely received in the past; for it is indeed 

 true that, while we have accomplished great things in technical 

 science, the results obtained are almost exclusively based on 

 fundamental laws and principles, a knowledge of which has 

 been gained by European men of science through years of self- 

 sacrificing toil. 



Naturally, before proceeding to a consideration of the future 

 of science in America, we must attempt to determine its present 

 state and inquire into the part which America has played in 



