64 NATURE 

[JANUARY 13, 1923 
Scientific Expeditionary Research. 
A SMALL meeting, which was attended by repre- 
sentatives of several of the sciences more 
immediately concerned, was held in the rooms of 
the Linnean Society, on January 3, under the 
presidency of Sir Kenneth MacKenzie, Bart., to 
discuss the formation of a ‘‘ Scientific Expeditionary 
Research Association’; and it was agreed that this 
action should be taken. The general objects of the 
scheme, as stated in a draft which had been prepared 
before the meeting, are to facilitate and promote 
scientific research by means of expeditions to all parts 
of the world. The association, which is to be pre- 
cluded from making any distribution of dividends 
or bonus in money, is to consist of a body of fellows 
and members, and any profits which may accrue 
from its operations are to be devoted to the objects 
stated. } 
It is proposed to commence with an expedition to 
the Pacific, visiting islands which lie off the beaten 
track, and the journey is to be undertaken in a 
sailing ship. The necessary funds are to be provided 
by the contributions, at a fixed rate, of about fifty 
persons of either sex who may be expected to take 
a general interest in the work of a scientific expedition. 
A more definitely scientific nucleus is to be provided 
by the nomination, by scientific societies or in other 
ways, of from six to ten suitably qualified persons 
who would not be expected to make any contribution 
in money. 
It is believed that the scientific members of the 
party would be able to carry out investigations during 
the cruise or at islands at which a halt was to be 
made, and that they would be able to interest and 
obtain assistance from the others. The itinerary, 
which would be decided beforehand, would be 
arranged so as to facilitate work of a serious nature, 
and the plan of the tour would be devised with 
special reference to the investigations it was proposed 
to carry out. This matter would be in the hands 
of an advisory council, in which it is hoped that it 
will be possible to include representatives of various 
sciences who could assist in drawing up a practicable 
scheme. It is believed that there would be a profit 
on the first cruise, and that this would be available 

for partly financing the next expedition, supplemented 
by receipts from other sources,"such as the sub- 
scriptions of fellows and members, the profits of 
lectures and the sale of specimens and publications. 
The existence of an organisation which would be 
able to send out scientific expeditions as required, 
from time to time, would be likely to prove extremely 
useful in advancing natural knowledge. 
The promoters of the scheme believe that they 
will have no difficulty in obtaining the support 
necessary to enable them to carry out their first 
expedition. If this can be done, it seems obvious 
that there should be many opportunities of obtaining 
valuable collections of animals, plants, and rock- 
specimens; and that the investigation of these 
collections is likely to yield results which will give 
the association the right to claim that a part of its 
objects has been accomplished. It was pointed out 
at the meeting that success in carrying out research- 
work during the cruise was likely to depend mainly 
on the possibility of finding qualified investigators 
who would be able to accompany the expedition, 
and of planning a. tour which would give scope for 
the execution of the work on which they were severally 
engaged. The meeting can scarcely be said to have 
been in a position to decide how this could be done, 
and no definite scheme has at present been thought 
out. The difficulties were admitted, but the opinion 
was expressed by certain speakers that they could 
be surmounted, by the restriction of the efforts of 
each cruise to a series of investigations which would 
not be incompatible with one another. 
The officers of the association are Sir J. Kenneth 
D. MacKenzie, Bart. (president), Commander D. 
Blair, R.N.R. (marine superintendent), and Mr. 
Frederick W. Kealey (organising secretary); and 
the offices are at 68 Pall Mall, S.W.1, from which 
further information can be obtained. Suggestions 
as to lines of work which could profitably be undertaken ~ 
during the first cruise would be gladly received by 
the officers, and it is particularly desirable to receive 
the names of well-qualified scientific investigators 
who would be prepared, if appointed, to accompany 
the expedition and to carry out specified researches. 

Geography in Education. 
“[ BREE matters of scientific interest were dis- 
cussed at the annual meetings of the Geo- 
graphical Association. Sir John Russell, of Rotham- 
sted Experimental Station, gave the presidential 
address on ‘“‘ The Influence of Geographical Factors 
on the Agricultural Activities of a Population.” 
Confining his illustrations to Britain, he pointed out 
that in earlier times each village community had to 
be self-supporting, and that agricultural systems were 
uniform all over the country. This implied that 
certain areas, mainly heavy clays and light sands, 
were perforce left vacant, and that the drier south 
and east were the most attractive for agriculture and 
settlement. With later improvements of transport 
and increased knowledge of how to combine animal 
production with the growing of grain and other 
vegetable foods, the action of the geographical factors 
was modified, and the modification seems now to be 
in process of being carried a step further, as different 
parts of the country are specialising in productions, 
mainly luxuries, for which they are specially suited. 
Dr. Olive Wheeler, of the University of Manchester, 
spoke of ‘‘ The Place of Geography in the Education 
of the Adolescent.’’ She approached the matter from 
NO. 2776).VOL. 111 | 

the point of view, not of subjects, but of the pupils. 
She considered specially the physical and mental 
development of young people between the ages of 
12 and 16. She pointed to the quick growth in 
bulk and the rapidity of bodily changes, and em- 
phasised also the extreme importance of the new 
emotional experiences, social, esthetic, and religious, 
as well as sexual. Any education worth the name 
must take account of the fact that boys and girls of 
the ages considered are, consciously or unconsciously, 
attempting to find a philosophy of life. It is the 
business of teachers to arrange that the process is 
carried on with tolerance and broadmindedness. To 
do this it is necessary that education should deal 
with the study of matter on one hand and with the 
development of personality by means of the humane 
subjects on the other. Dr. Wheeler then emphasised 
again the position of geography as a correlating sub- 
ject in which is considered not only how matter 
affected man but how man affected matter. 
graphy, probably, better than any other subject helped 
boys and girls to obtain a true philosophy of life. 
Prof. Tower, American commercial attaché, Ameri- 
can Embassy, lectured on ‘‘ Geography in Business 
Geo-_ 
