668 



NATURE 



[February 19, 1920 



less happened durinjf the Kainozoic era, and 

 Dr. Chalmers Mitchell's observations on the con- 

 dition of the volcanic hills of the Bayuda will 

 probablv indicate a more precise date. 



J. W. Gregory. 



A' 



THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 

 OF THE UNITED STATES. 



\ account has recently been published of the 

 org-anisation establi.shed by the National 

 Research Council of the United States for the 

 carrying- out of its work. Americans are proud 

 of their organising ability, and it is very interest- 

 ing- to study the efforts of the men of science of 

 America to develop their scheme of mobilising the 

 whole strength of American science for the promo- 

 tion of the national well-being and for the advance 

 of science itself. 



The National Research Council was established 

 to deal with war problems. It was started by the 

 men of science themselves ; they recognised that 

 although the Government had already strong scien- 

 tific bureaux, there were many other workers who 

 in the isolation of their own laboratories were 

 almost unavailable, but eager for opportunity 

 to help. This organisation is now being 

 completed and put on a permanent basis. 

 'We are told that it differs from organisations for 

 similar purposes in England, Canada, Australia, 

 and Japan in that, while recognised by Govern- 

 ment, it was not initiated or organised by Govern- 

 ment, and is not supported by it. Its support is 

 derived from funds contributed by private sources. 



The machinery is somewhat elaborate. There 

 are seven divisions devoted to special branches of 

 science and technology. These divisions are physical 

 science, engineering, chemistry and chemical 

 technology, geology and geography, medical 

 science, biology and agriculture, and anthro- 

 pology and psychology. The members of each of 

 these divisions include representatives of societies 

 dealing with cognate subjects, other scientific 

 workers, and representatives of firms. Attached 

 to each division there are a very large number of 

 committees to give attention to special problems. 

 But in addition to this classification into seven 

 divisions there are six "general relations" 

 divisions — a Government division, a division for 

 foreign relations, a division of States relations, 

 a division of educational relations, a division of 

 industrial relations, and a division of research in- 

 formation. The idea underlying these divisions 

 may be seen from their constitution. For example, 

 the educational division has a membership includ- 

 ing representatives of all the principal university 

 associations, the United States Bureau of Educa- 

 tion, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement 

 of Teaching, etc. The division for research in- 

 formation will, we are told, be a national centre 

 of information concerning American research work 

 and research workers, with all its information 

 promptly available to institutions and individuals 

 interested in knowing at any time what problems 



NO. 2625, VOL. 104] 



are under investigation in America and their 

 status. 



The National Research Council has per- 

 manent headquarters in Washington, with an 

 executive staff of men of science giving their whole 

 time to the work of their respective positions. 

 Each of the divisions has a resident chairman and 

 a small office staff in Washington. 



It is not yet possible to say much as to the 

 actual work of the new Council. From the list 

 of subjects being studied by the numerous com- 

 mittees of the different divisions, it would appear 

 that problems of wide national interest are receiv- 

 ing first attention. If we compare the Arnerican 

 organisation with that of our own Research De- 

 partment as shown in its annual reports, it would 

 seem that in America the scientific worker is 

 organised to a greater, and the industrial leader to 

 a less, degree than in this country. There is 

 nothing in the American scheme that quite coin- 

 cides with the research associations for each large 

 industry established by our Research Department. 

 It is clear that both the American Department and 

 our own will have much to learn by watching each 

 other's development, and it is to be hoped that 

 some degree of co-operation may be established m 

 connection with problems of interest and import- 

 ance to both nations. 



The official organ of the National Research 

 Council for the publication of accounts of research 

 work and of committee and other reports will be the 

 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 

 but in addition the Council proposes to publish a 

 Bulletin at irregular intervals. The first number 

 of the Bulletin contains articles by Dr. G. E. Hale 

 and other writers on different aspects of the 

 national importance of scientific and industrial 

 research. Dr. Hale gives an account of the origin 

 of the Council and outlines its objects. He 

 argues against the view that organised effort in 

 science may hamper the individual investigator 

 and hinder personal initiative. In his opinion, 

 well-planned co-operation stimulates the individual 

 and brings out his best and most original efforts. 

 The Council will favour this type of co-operation, 

 but is opposed to all attempts at a central control 

 of research. 



The Hon. Elihu Root writes on the need for 

 organisation in research, and holds that science 

 has been arranging, classifying, methodising, and 

 simplifying everything except itself. One fears 

 that the degree of organisation suggested by Mr. 

 Root would almost amount to the control which 

 Dr. Hale tells us the Council has no wish to 

 attempt. Other articles dealing with the relation 

 of research to industry are written by men of 

 wide experience in large industrial concerns, and 

 the Bulletin concludes with an account by Mr. 

 Howe of the organisation of scientific and indus- 

 trial research in the United States, the British 

 Empire, France, Italy, Japan, and Belgium. An 

 appendix contains a list of non-military researches 

 undertaken by the Council covering a wide range 

 of subjects, and especially numerous in the section 

 of medical science. 



