FOREWORD 



By THEODORE A. OLSON, Chairman of the Symposium 



SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 



The present period is characterized by much specialization in scientific 

 work, often with resulting neglect of borderline fields of considerable im- 

 portance. This lack of inter-science cooperation is often apparent even 

 within relatively small subdivisions of scientific work. For instance, Stein- 

 haus (1946) in his "Insect Microbiology" stated that the microbiologist and 

 the entomologist greatly need an introduction to one another, although both 

 are in the generally accepted sense biologists. 



It is at once apparent that the lack of complete understanding between 

 scientists in related fields may be even greater when one considers the border 

 area lying between the engineer and the biologist. Dr. Paul Sears of Oberlin 

 College, in discussing this matter (1947), suggested biology courses for 

 engineers and pointed out that there are many ill effects which are unwit- 

 tingly produced by engineers because they had too little knowledge of liv- 

 ing things and their ecology. An industrial engineer may, for example, do 

 an excellent job creating factories of great economic importance to the 

 country yet fail to solve properly the waste disposal problems associated 

 with the same industry. Thus valuable surface waters may be seriously 

 polluted to the point where great economic, as well as aesthetic, losses are 

 sustained. Problems of drainage and of irrigation often involve questions 

 relating to biological principles as well as to engineering skills. 



Conversely, the biologist may often fail to take advantage of the knowl- 

 edge available in the field of engineering and of the sound advice he might 

 receive from members of that profession. Carried sufficiently far, a plan for 

 cooperation between the two groups, which necessitates working and think- 

 ing together, should lead to coordinated efforts which would be really effec- 

 tive and practical. Such action on the part of biologists and engineers 

 should break down the invisible wall which at present seems to exist between 

 their respective fields of endeavor. 



In view of the general agreement that future progress must include 

 cooperation and mutual understanding in fields of inter-science, the appear- 

 ance of this volume is timely. The subject matter presented represents a 

 sampling of the border area which lies within the scope of interests common 

 to the engineer, the limnologist, and the oceanographer. On this com m on 

 ground a better understanding and a fuller appreciation of the role played 

 by each profession can be built. It is hoped, therefore, that these papers 

 will stimulate further thinking and cooperative work in the fields of activity 

 represented, and that ultimately they will lead to other as yet unexplored 

 areas of common interest. 



Theodore A. Olson 

 Chairman of Symposium 



References Cited 



Sears, P. B. 1947. Importance of ecology in the training of engineers. Science, 106: 1-3. 

 Steinhaus, E. a. 1946. In Insect Microbiology. Comstock Publishing Co., Inc., Ithaca, 

 N. Y. 



