254 



NATURE 



[November 28, 1918 



I SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ISSOCIATION. 



t N the spring of this jear steps wen taken ai ('am- 

 A bridge to form a scientific research association, 

 and a provisional executive committee was appointed 

 to bring the mailer before a limited number of 

 selected representatives oi the various branches of 

 science throughout the country. The aims of the 

 association were defined as follows: — 



(1) To be prepared to offer advice and informatics 

 lo those who wish in devote themselves to scientific 

 research. 



(2) In be prepared to give advice to bodies adminiS 

 tering public funds foi research as to the most useful 

 ways in which such funds could be applied. 



(3) To impress upon the attention of the public the 



importance of scientific research, and thus In promote 



a wider understanding of the fundamental value of 

 scientific method. 



(4) To consider the possibility of organising a 

 scheme of permanent national endowment so as to 

 afford opportunities for young and promising students 

 to establish themselves in research work, and to secure 



to the allies! of these the possibility of a career devoted 



mainly to the continued pursuit of scientific investiga- 

 tion. 



Widespread and representative support was obtained 

 for the project, seventy fellows nf the Royal Society 

 being among those who signified their adhesion to these 

 aims, and this has encouraged the provisional com- 

 mittee to proceed with the work of drafting an out- 

 line of the proposed constitution and organisation nf 

 the association. This draft, with an explanatory state- 

 ment nf the aims of the association and a first list of 

 supporters, has now been issued in a circular which 

 is abridged below. Though the association had its 

 origin in Cambridge, its activities are, of course, not 

 intended to be limited to Cambridge, hut In be national 

 in scope, membership being open to all who have 

 published research or are engaged in research for 

 publication, and associate-membership to all who, 

 without being engaged in research, have its interests at 

 heart. A general meeting will be called in London as 

 soon as possible, to which rules and constitution will be 

 submitted, and at which a governing body and officers 

 will be appointed who will fix the details of organisa- 

 tion. The acting secretary is Mr. A. <",. Tansley, 

 F.R.S., Grantchester, Cambridge, to which address 

 applications for membership or for further particulars 

 of the association should be sent. 



It is believed that the time is ripe for the formation 

 of ;i scientific research association .to watch over and 

 promote the interests of research in pure science in this 

 country. While applied sceince has recently received 

 1 le stimulus owing to the urgent demands of 



the war, there is a real danger that the interests of 

 pure scii nee, in spite of recent and very explicit public 

 recognition, may remain neglected. In view of the 

 large project of reconstruction now occupying the 

 best minds, it s, , ms particularly opportune for men 

 of science to mak .1 concerted effort both to improve 

 the efficiency of their own contribution to national life 

 and to bring home to the mind of the nation the vital 

 importance nf science and the scientific method in all 

 depai Intents of national life. 



In the first place, it is believed that science requires 

 not miK larger endowments, but also more co-ordinated 

 and informed allocation of ihos< endowments than is 

 provided bv any existing machinery. It is thought that 

 the besl way to construct really adequate machinery is 

 NO. 2561, VOL. T02] 



to provide a comprehensive internal system of intel- 

 ligence as to the research thai is actuall; being 

 in the various branches of science and ol new research 

 as it is projected. Such a s\stem would serve .•. double 

 function. Ii would increase thi use of existing facili- 

 ties b\ putting qualified workers into touch with in- 



siiiutiniis when- the most satisfactoi litions fo 



carrying out their researches already exist, 

 reciprocal!) l>\ suggesting to institutions and d' 

 ments the nanus of suitable workers. || would alsn 

 quickly bring in light tin deficiencies in existing 

 facilities and enable suggestions to be made for their 



improvement and increase. Work id' ibis kind is. , | 



course, already done privately and by various bo 

 bui ii is more or less sporadic, casual, and un- 

 coordinated. It is believed that systematic organisa- 

 tion of such intelligence work would be of great value 

 in facilitating and stimulating the carrying or 



research. 



It is also believed that the best indeed, the onh 

 completely efficient- method of creating the mai hit 1 

 required is to associate together the whole body of men 

 of science on a democratic basis. It L onh by such 

 association that reallv full information can be obtained 

 and impartially sifted. 



'lb- governing body of the association would servi 

 as a link between the proposed intelligence organisa- 

 tion and the Government Departments and oilier public 

 bodies controlling funds available for the endowment 

 of research, acting as an organ of intelligence as 

 to the funds required. There have already been 



created, under the auspices of the Department of 

 Scientific and Industrial Research, a number of indus- 

 trial research associations which will keep tie I)*,' 

 ment informed of the needs ami progress of indus- 

 trial research, as well as themselves carryinj 

 research. Making allowance for the differena ol 

 conditions, the Scientific Research Association would 

 aim at performing a somewhat similar function in 

 leg. nd to research in pure science-, though il would 

 not, of course, itself undertake research. 



The- association would necessarily acquire a unique 

 body of information as to the existing situation in 

 regard lo research, and would thus be in an exci p- 

 tionallv favourable position for suggesting new and 

 promising lines of development. A conspicuous 

 feature- of much recent rise. nib has been the- develop- 

 ment of co-operation, not onh between different 

 workers in the same branch of science- who undertake 

 joint work on problems beyond the- power of s 

 workers to cope with, Inn also between workers in 

 different departments who co-operate in an attack 

 upon border-line problems which require for their 

 solution the contributions of men trainee! in more 

 than nne branch nf science. The- comprehensive 

 organisation of the association should render it 

 speciall) capable- of facilitating or even of initiating 

 this kind of fruitful co-operation . 



Xo interference with the work e.f any existing 

 body is contemplated. Tin- association would act 

 as a co-ordinating agency, and would endeavour to 

 co-operate intimately with existing scientific bodies 

 and he nssist all efforts of a similar kind that are at 

 pies, n: being made. Thus the- Medical Research 

 Committee al present attached to the National Health 

 Insurance- Department, in addition to initiating and 

 carrving out research on its own account, also per- 

 forms similar work in regard to medical research, 

 'fbe- Scientific Research Association would hope to 

 CO-Operate with that Committee- in regard to research 

 having a direct or indireel bearing on medical 

 problems, rendering the Committee any assistance 

 that might be- possible Ii h. ■- been suggested thai 



