370 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. LIV. No. 1399 



Second, Industry and College Instructors. — 

 As in the past, the research interest of the 

 college instructor will always be in pure or 

 abstract science and there can be but little 

 doubt that this position is the correct one. 

 Looking back over the development of in- 

 dustry it seems clear that research iu pure 

 science is the forerunner and always precedes 

 industrial application. Though an iavestiga- 

 tion in abstract science may, at the time of 

 its completion, be of no practical use to hu- 

 manity, there is no reason to suppose that 

 the time will not come when this research 

 may be so utilized; in fact we have number- 

 less examples of just such cases. Research 

 in our educational institutions should be en- 

 couraged as much as possible, first, by the 

 endowment of research laboratories and, 

 second, by relieving as much as possible 

 the research staS of an institution from 

 teaching engagements in order that its 

 members may have the maximum of time 

 for investigation. When industrial problems 

 arise which are in need of immediate solu- 

 tion, such institutions as the Mellon Institute 

 of Industrial Research may be utilized in 

 which a research problem of direct interest 

 to an industry may be prosecuted, the firm 

 deriving all of the benefits of the investiga- 

 tion and defraying its expenses. Commercial 

 organizations may show their appreciation of 

 research by endowing scholarships and fellow- 

 ships in educational institutions and thus 

 help to place this phase of educational work 

 upon a firm, enduring footing. Industry 

 ultimately benefits by research and therefore 

 can logically be called upon to support it. 

 An encouraging start has been made in this 

 direction, many of our universities being the 

 recipients of scholarships endowed by com- 

 mercial organizations, thus assuring the 

 research teacher of assistance and means to 

 carry on his work. The question as to how 

 the instructor can best keep in touch with 

 industrial operations is not one easy of answer. 

 He might well devote a part of his time to 

 the solution of technical problems, thus 

 gaining practical experience that would be 

 of great assistance to him in his teaching. 



There are, however, at least two objections 

 to this: (1) The results of such an investi- 

 gation could necessarily not be published, be- 

 cause, as long as there is commercial competi- 

 tion, technical investigation will be conducted 

 secretly and (2) there is danger of converting 

 an educational laboratory into an adjunct to 

 a commercial enterprise. This last is obvious- 

 ly an impossible situation and a misuse of 

 public and private endovsment given for edu- 

 cational use. Whether or not it will be pos- 

 sible to strike a happy medium only time can 

 tell. 



In conclusion, the report of a committee 

 of the American Chemical Society^ dealing 

 with this subject is of interest. Briefly sum- 

 marized it runs as follows: 



" (1) The most important contribution which 

 the universities can make to the industries 

 of this country is to supply them with suf- 

 ficient numbers of men thoroughly and broadly 

 trained in the principles of chemistry. 



" (2) Because of the tendency to draw men, 

 effective in research work, away from uni- 

 versities into industrial work by the payment 

 of higher salaries, it seems evident that, im.- 

 less a considerable increase in salaries of 

 teachers can be secured, the next generation 

 of chemists is likely to be trained by a set 

 of mediocre men. 



" (3 and 4) Fellowships leaving the teacher 

 and student free to select the topic of research 

 as well as those designed to promote the solu- 

 tion of some industrial problem are both 

 desirable. The results of the latter should be 

 published and not be the property of any one 

 firm. 



" (5) Fellowships designed for the benefit 

 of a single firm should be subject to very 

 careful restrictions. The firm should pay for 

 the services of the instructor as well as the 

 fellow, and for the use of the laboratory 

 facilities. The results should he published 

 within two years after the expiration of the 

 fellowship. Fellowships preparing men for 

 specific industries are desirable provided the 

 industry is a large one and the character of 

 the training is left to the discretion of the 



3 J. hid. and Eng. Chem., May, 1919. 



