February 17, 1916] 



NATURE 



t»93 



was lacking in the highest quaUties, but only in 



.;. sense that it was pursued for the sheer pleasure and 



iiitrrest of it by private individuals. It was done 



mostly at odd times, and nearly always at the worker's 



V n expense. 



I he point seems to have been reached at which the 



.t attempt to organise research should be to create 



, nothing more resembling an army out of the multi- 



lo of independent scientific workers. An army is 



; a collection of armed individuals, each pursuing 



- own aims and ideas. It is a complex organism 



which each man has place and duty. No great 



■trprise can be carried out unless there is some degree 



surrender of initiative and acceptance of directions 



in a higher command. To carry out this principle 



scientific work we require to a fuller extent than 



have it at present the system of scientific work 



no to order. This means that young investigators, 



1 even the older, shall be content to take up pieces 



prescribed work, quantitative or cjualitative, and 



ry it out individually or conjointly in connection 



ill certain large plans of operation. 



This conjoint or co-operative work would have several 



vantages. It would save much reduplication, and 



would train beginners in the best methods of re- 



irch. It would effect a saving of time and enable us 



much more quickly to reach a given point. There is 



much plain and straightforward research which can be 



carried out when its general lines are indicated to 



those not possessing very great originality, but yet 



having perseverance, accuracy, and skill. 



If, however, such work is to be undertaken by those 

 who may perhaps be called the privates and non- 

 commissioned officers of the scientific army, then it 

 presupposes a directing power which shall supply 

 what I have elsewhere called the strategy of scientific 

 research. This must, of course, come from the more 

 experienced and able workers, and it is to them that 

 we must look for ideas. If some men are to sur- 

 render initiative in their work, then others must give 

 time and thought to planning the outlines of the 

 scientific campaigns. 



We need not only the regimental officers but the 

 General Staff if there is to be effective achievement. 

 My contention is that this specification of the main 

 lines of suggested research is a matter which should 

 largely occupy our learned societies, and in particular 

 1I10 Royal .Society, from its broad and general character 

 .iiid unique position. 



But something more than this is necessary. We 

 have to formulate in precise detail the suggestions for 

 future work, and bring them to the notice of those 

 who may be able or willing to work them out. The 

 White Paper, which was issued last" July by the Board 

 of Education, signed by Mr. .Arthur Henderson, seems 

 intended to bring into existence some machinery for 

 eflEccting this desired end. So far as. the " Scheme for 

 the Organisation and Development of Scientific and 

 Tiulustrial Research " outlined in this White Paper 

 is formulated in detail, it appears to consist in the 

 establishment of (i) a committee of the Privy Council, 

 which will be responsible for any expenditure voted by 

 Parliament for scientific and industrial research ; ancl 

 (ii) a small advisory council, composed mai«Iy of 

 scientific men and men actually engaged in industries 

 dependent upon scientific research. 



The primary functions of the advisor>' council are 

 stated to be to advise on : — (i) Proposals for insti- 

 tuting specific researches ; (2) proposals for developing 

 or establishing special institutions for the study of 

 problems affecting particular industries; (3) the 

 establishment and award of research studentships and 

 fellowships. 



The VVhite Paper tells us that it Is contemplated 

 that the advisory council will work largely through 



NO. 2416, VOL. 96] 



sub-committees reinforced by suitable experts in the 

 particular branch of science or industry concerned oft 

 which it would be desirable to enlist the services of 

 persons actually engaged in science, trades, or manu- 

 factures. 



It is clearly impossible for any single board com- 

 posed of a few men, however eminent, to deal in any 

 reasonable time with all the research problems await- 

 ing solution in physics, chemistry, inorganic, organic, 

 and technical, metallurgy, engineering, electro- 

 technics, bacteriology, agriculture, etc., and the ques- 

 tions concerned in the recovery of our trade in dyes, 

 drugs, glass, ceramic ware, ferro-alloys, and scientific 

 apparatus. 



Hence separate bodies of experts will unquestion- 

 ably be required to deal with the different subjects ia 

 order to bring to bear upon them the proper technical 

 knowledge and to guide research on the right lines. 

 But now, if this is the case, the qi^stion at ,once 

 arises : Why is it necessary to create a new machinery 

 for dealing with these matters? Have we not already 

 in the councils of our learned and technical societies,, 

 or in committees of their members, all that is required 

 to form these boards, which might be called Per- 

 manent Advisory Committees on scientific research? 

 Why is it considered necessary to create new com- 

 mittees? 



The proposition I submit for your consideration is- 

 that the organisation of scientific research should be 

 a matter undertaken by scientific men themselves, 

 and should not be taken over independently oT them- 

 by a Government Department. The essential matter 

 is that this organisation of scientific research should 

 not become bureaucratic or academic, but should be 

 conducted by bodies represenative of the best technicat 

 and scientific opinion, and be closely in touch with 

 the members of all the various scientific and technical 

 societies. If these [>ermanent advisory committees in 

 the different subjects were elected from the councils 

 or members of the various societies, we should have 

 in them men who are closely in touch with those 

 particular branches of pure or applied science. 



If public funds are to be administered, then it might 

 be proper that certain of the members on each board 

 should be appointed by the Government Department 

 concerned, say, by the Board of Education ; but my 

 contention is that the organisation work should be- 

 the work of scientific men as a whole and not any 

 small section of them, or be carried out by Depart- 

 mental officials over their heads. 



Suppose, then, we assume that we have created 

 permanent advisory committees for the difTerent 

 branches of pure and applied science, the duty of 

 which should be the organisation of research in their 

 resf)ective departments. Their first work should be 

 to draw up as comprehensive a report as possible, 

 pointing out the general needs of each department 

 of knowledge and the most necessary directions of 

 research in it. 



The first report would no doubt have to be con- 

 cerned chiefly with the deficiencies in the appliances 

 and means of conducting it, such as laboratories and 

 apparatus. Also with the numbers and supply of 

 men available lor undertaking it or actually engaged 

 on it. Later reports would then be properly occupied 

 with the more detailed discussion of the problems 

 awaiting investigation and particular suggestions for 

 directions of research. Each advisory board should 

 have its salaried recorder or secretar>-, who should 

 be a scientific man with some literary attainments. 

 Each board should, of course, have taken evidence 

 from all kinds of experts in its own subject in draw- 

 ing up its report, so that this document would thert 

 be not the mere embodiment of the opinions of a few, 

 but 'the concentrated wisdom of all those engaged in 



