Fesruary 8, 1917] 
NATURE 
461 
of laboratories is more information as to specific plans 
for starting and running them. General articles on 
the advantages of research work would be very much 
helped in carrying conviction if they were accompanied 
by definite proposals telling manufacturers of different 
industries and of different grades in the size of their 
work what they could do in the way of research work 
_ themselves. 
The average person who has to decide whether his 
corporation will support research work can, in the 
nature of things, know little about it. He desires 
_ either to spend much less than is necessary for effective 
work, or he is frightened by the size of the expenditure 
which he thinks will be necessary. More specific 
_ information would enable him to form a truer idea as 
to what he was committing himself and what he was 
likely to get. 
So far as possible, arrangements should be made 
for research institutions to have information as to 
their work available and to persuade them to give 
this information freely to inquirers. It’ would be a 
considerable step in co-operative effort if all the re- 
search institutions that can be reached could be per- 
suaded to put information regarding themselves into 
some form so that a comparison could be made. 
The Establishment of Stable Relations between 
Research Institutions and the Research Depart- 
ments of Industrial Plants. 
The suggestion has been frequently made that the 
establishment of stable relations between the types 
of organisations mentioned might be effected if a 
small group of selected representatives thereof could 
arrange to confer at regular times. After considera- 
tion, the sub-committee recommends the formation of 
an association of research institutions—that is, an 
association of all those bodies engaged in scientific 
and scientific industrial research, including such organ- 
isations as the research laboratories of Harvard Uni- 
versity, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and 
other educational institutions, the Carnegie Institu- 
tion laboratories, the Mellon Institute of Industrial 
Research, and the research laboratories of the cor- 
porations which are conducting a certain amount of 
research of scientific importance. Undoubtedly, an 
association of this nature would meet with satis- 
factory support, and it would eventually prove an 
important factor in improving the methods of research 
organisation. 
Stable relations between various research organisa- 
tions will be worth while only if some mutual benefits 
can accrue. These can be brought about by an ex- 
change or interchange of ‘‘commodities,’’ such as— 
(a) Subjects for research. 
(b) Special facilities for extraordinary conditions, 
such as extreme pressures, extremes of temperatures, 
etc. 
(c) Special pieces of expensive apparatus. 
(d) Helpful ideas on research already in progress. 
(e) Candidates for employment. 
This presupposes a freedom from the secrecy which 
still surrounds the industrial research of certain 
organisations. Undue secrecy is unnecessary and un- 
wise, but it is only in those cases where publicity is 
compatible with industrial progress that full co-opera- 
tion between the universities and the industries can 
be effected. 
A Comparative Study of Investigational Activities. 
This study would be: distinctly worth while, but 
before the initiation of such a movement there must 
first be established more mutual confidence than now 
exists. A comparative study of this kind would be 
very: difficult and would necessitate the expenditure 
of much time. Probably such information could be | 
NO. 2467, VOL. 98] 
secured by obtaining the reports regarding the indus- 
trial research laboratories in operation, and there is no 
reason why a suitable questionnaire could not be pre- 
pared and distributed, in order to obtain information 
regarding research conditions and comparative data 
relating to the organisations maintaining laboratories. 
It would be very useful indeed to have available a 
year-book pertaining to research laboratories, with the 
following lines of information: institutions, organisa- 
tions or concerns supporting them, approximate pur- 
pose of laboratory, divisions of science represented 
therein, manufacturing facilities directly associated 
therewith, approximate annual expenditure for main- 
tenance of research, number, and particulars relating 
to the training, of the members of the investigatory 
staff, and, finally, a list of the scientific publications 
for the past year. Such a book might also advan- 
tageously include mention of the special equipment of 
the laboratories unlikely to be possessed by every 
similar institution. 
The National Research Council, through its com- 
mittee on research in educational institutions, could 
well arrange to have some one whose sole duty it was 
to co-ordinate the work in university laboratories with 
reference to general or national welfare. While any 
attempt which may be made by a national society or 
association to secure co-operation between industrial 
and institutional laboratories will invariably encounter 
the difficulty of vested interests, an organisation with 
Governmental support might accomplish much fruitful 
research work through institutions of learning and in 
such a way that this would be of material benefit to 
the institutions concerned, as well as to the nation. 
R. F. Bacon, 
Chairman, 
C. E. K. MEEs, 
W. H. WaLkER, 
M. C. WHITAKER, 
W. R. WuirTney. 
Pittsburgh, Pa., 
December 15, 1916. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
Oxrorp.—On February 6 Convocation passed, nem. 
con., a series of decrees providing for the administra- 
tion of the important bequest received under the will 
of the late Christopher Welch, M.A., of Wadham 
College. The income derived from the trust is to be 
applied to the establishment of four scholarships, each 
of the value of £100 a year, for the promotion of the 
study of biology, and more especially for the encourage- 
ment of such students as give proof of capacity for 
original observation and research. Each scholarship is 
to be tenable for four years, and candidates may offer 
any one of the subjects botany, animal physiology, © 
and zoology. The bequest is,a valuable addition to 
the means at the disposal of the university for the 
promotion of scientific research. 
The report of the Committee for Anthropology, 
lately issued, gives an account of the instruction offered 
during the past year in physical and social anthro- 
pology, geographical distribution, prehistoric archzo- 
logy, and technology. Despite unfavourable conditions, 
eight fresh students entered their names on the register 
during the year. 
Mr. E. J. C. Rennig, son of Prof. Rennie, of the 
University of Adelaide, has been appointed acting 
lecturer in electrical engineering in the University 
of Melbourne. He will take the place of Mr. E. B. 
Brown, who is about to engage in munition work 
in this country. 
