xeil REPORT — 1903. 



ing British Association Sub-Committees to be elected by themselves 

 with the object of dealing with all those subjects of investigation 

 common to their Societies and to the British Association Committees, 

 and to look after the general interests of science and scientific education 

 throughout the provinces and provincial centres. Your Committee may 

 point out that the only permanent bodies carrying out systematic 

 scientific work under the auspices of the Association are the various 

 Committees appointed by the Sections to undertake particular investiga- 

 tions and to report thereon to their respective Sections. The proposal 

 now submitted is equivalent to a request that the Corresponding Societies 

 should themselves appoint such Standing Committees for stimulating 

 every branch of inquiry in which these Societies are co-operating with 

 the Association. It is believed that the active workers in every Society 

 would by this means be brought to realise more fully that their labours 

 are contributing to the general advancement of science ; and since the 

 subjects at present brought under the notice of the Corresponding 

 Societies cover practically every department of science represented by the 

 Sections of the Association, it is hoped that these new British Association 

 Sub-Committees of the Corresponding Societies may serve as nuclei for 

 creating and maintaining locallj' public interest in every branch of scien- 

 tific knowledge. 



' Your Committee desire to lay special emphasis on the necessity for 

 the extension of the scientific activity of the Corresponding Societies and 

 the expert knowledge of many of their members in the direction of 

 scientific education. They are of opinion that immense benefit would 

 accrue to the country if the Corresponding Societies would keep this 

 requirement especially in view with the object of securing adequate 

 representation for scientific education on the Education Committees now 

 being appointed under the new Act. The Educational Section of the 

 Association having been but recently added, the Corresponding Societies 

 have as yet not had much opportunity for taking part in this branch of 

 the Association's work, and in view of the reorganisation in education 

 now going on all over the country your Committee are of opinion that no 

 more opportune time is likely to occur for the influence of scientific 

 organisations to make itself felt as a real factor in national education. 

 They do not at the present juncture think it desirable to formulate any 

 definite scheme detailing precise methods by which the Corresponding 

 Societies might be of service to the cause of scientific education. Some 

 Societies might prefer to unite to form Educational Consultative Com- 

 mittees of their own, and to place their services at the disposal of the 

 Education Authority of their County or Borough. Others might prefer that 

 individual members of their Societies should be added to the Education 

 Committee, and others again might prefer to act indirectly by helping to 

 foster public opinion in favour of that kind of education which it is the 

 chief function of a scientific corporation such as the British Association 

 to promote. In view of the importance which your Committee attach to 

 this branch of the work now proposed for the Corresponding Societies, it 

 is suggested that the circular issued by the Council in accordance with 

 the recommendation in this Report should invite special expressions of 

 opinion from the Societies through their Delegates at the next Conference 

 at Southport, so that if it is considered desirable that local effort in the 

 cause not only of Science but also of scientific education would be 

 strengthened if backed up by the authority of the Association, the 



