May 25, 1916] 



NATURE 



263 



THE BRITISH SCIENCE GUILD. 



THE tenth annual meeting of the British Science 

 Guild was held at the rooms of the Royal 

 Society of Medicine on May 17, when the Rt. Hon. 

 Sir William Mather (president of the Guild) pre- 

 sided over a large attendance, including many 

 well-known men of science. 



In moving the adoption of the annual report the 

 president referred to the past work of the British 

 Science Guild in encouraging the practical applica- 

 tions of science — a matter the importance of which 

 had been acutely realised since the outbreak of 

 war. Many instances are furnished in the report. 

 It will be recalled that public interest in this 

 -question was aroused by an address delivered by 

 Sir William Ramsay on the organisation of science 

 at the annual meeting in 191 5. This subject has 

 since received constant attention by the executive 

 committee, and useful work has also been done 

 by the various special committees of the Guild. 

 A journal is now being issued periodically sum- 

 marising the work of such committees and other 

 matters of general interest to members of the 

 Guild. 



It is remarked that the need for the proposed 

 National School of Technical Optics has been 

 strikingly illustrated by the difficulty, since the 

 outbreak of war, in securing adequate supplies 

 of binoculars, prismatic compasses, gun-sights, 

 periscopes, range-finders, and other "optical 

 munitions." A resolution urging the national im- 

 portance of such a school was passed by the 

 executive committee of the Guild on December 7, 

 1915, and forwarded to the Ministry' of Munitions, 

 but notwithstanding the assurance of the Minister 

 that " the object in view appears to be undoubtedly 

 of the greatest importance," the necessary funds 

 for this purpose are not yet forthcoming. Com- 

 mittees are also engaged in studying the manu- 

 facture of British microscopes for pathological, 

 chemical, and metallurgical work ; and a special 

 committee has outlined a programme of policy of 

 State relationship to industry, science, and edu- 

 cation. This memorandum will be issued in due 

 course. 



The annual report contains a survey of the 

 various science committees working on war 

 problems, the steps taken by various 

 scientific societies to put their members at 

 the service of the Government for scientific 

 work, and other proposals Of interest during 

 the year. Reference is made to the recent 

 meeting following the memorandum on "The 

 Neglect of Science ' ' ; the conference called by the 

 Royal Society with the view of establishing a con- 

 joint board of scientific societies ; and the work 

 of the advisory council to the committee of the 

 Privy Council for the organisation of scientific and 

 industrial research. In an appendix, compiled by 

 Prof. R. A. Gregory, the work of the advisory 

 council is more fully described and a summar\' is 

 given of the scheme for the establishment of a 

 Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry in 

 Australia. This appendix also contains a review 



NO. 2430, VOL. 97] 



of the Civil Service estimates for education and 

 science, and some particulars of benefactions to 

 science and education in the United States. 

 During the period 1871-1914 no less than 

 1 16,883,000^. was given in private donations 

 for these purposes. In the year 191 3-14 six uni- 

 versities benefited to the extent of more than 

 200,oooL each, Cornell University receiving 

 875,220/. The average annual benefactions for 

 educational purposes amount to nearly six million 

 pounds. The report as a whole furnishes an ex- 

 tremely interesting review of progress during the 

 past year — a year which may prove a very 

 important one in the history of British science. 



The adoption of the annual report was seconded 

 by Dr. R. Mullineux W^almsley, who gave some 

 instances of our present deficiency in facilities for 

 the manufacture and application of optical glass. 

 He recalled that the scheme for the National 

 School of Technical Optics, originally matured by 

 the governors of the Northampton Institute, was 

 placed before the educational authorities thirteen 

 years ago. Had this school been in existence 

 when the war opened, it could have rendered ex- 

 ceedingly valuable service. In appealing for 

 40,000/. to cover the building and equipment of 

 the school Dr. Walmsley read a letter from Mr. 

 Lloyd George agreeing that a National School of 

 Technical Optics was urgently needed, and com- 

 mending the scheme to the generous consideration 

 of patriotic citizens. 



An address was delivered by the Rt. Hon. 

 Andrew Fisher, High Commissioner for the Com- 

 monwealth, on the establishment of a National In- 

 stitute of Science and Industry in Australia. Since 

 the war Australia had learned to appreciate the 

 value of organised science. The laboratory was the 

 adjunct of the workshop. Science, added Mr. 

 Fisher, should be more adequately represented in 

 the Government of this country, and mere attach- 

 ment to tradition should not interfere with the 

 realisation of this aim. The scheme for the National 

 Institute of Science and Industry was based on co- 

 operation. The Conference called last Januarv' had 

 received the combined support of men of science, 

 manufacturers, and representatives of the chief 

 State departments, and in a fortnight had evolved 

 a definite scheme. The institute will be under the 

 supervision of three directors, free from political 

 control, one of whom will be a man of proved 

 ability in business and finance, and the other two 

 men of science of high standing. The institute 

 will encourage and initiate researches in the chief 

 colleges and laboratories throughout the country, 

 establish research fellowships, and create new in- 

 stitutions where necessary. It is also proposed to 

 organise a bur.eau of information, which will act 

 as a clearing-house for intelligence of scientific 

 and industrial value, will help to avoid overlapping 

 of effort, and will promote the interchange of ex- 

 perience between men of science and manufac- 

 turers. Among the subjects to be investigated 

 will be many of great importance to Australia 

 connected with metallurgical, chemical, and agri- 

 cultural matters and the utilisation of waste pro- 



