January 12, 1917] 



SCIENCE 



37 



rate his subject into its essential parts and 

 then to consult the literature on each factor, 

 he would find considerable information which 

 he otherwise would miss. 



(c) He does not critically digest the articles 

 under examination, but often he makes only 

 a few disconnected quotations and fails to in- 

 terpret the work done. 



The solution is to be found in the provision 

 in the chemical curriculum, preferably in the 

 senior year, of a course of lectures on the 

 literature of chemistry, with particular refer- 

 ence to the character of the writings and the 

 status of the authors. The purpose of these 

 lectures should be to present a general survey 

 of the voluminous literature and to impart an 

 accurate, systematic working knowledge of 

 chemical bibliography. A concurrent seminar 

 should be devoted to indexing and tracing 

 chemical literature, to the cultivation of an 

 acquaintanceship with authorities, and to the 

 solution of bibliographic problems. 



The subcommittee also recommends that 

 pedagogic attention be given to the arrange- 

 ment of a course of study in the principles of 

 technical reporting and in the criteria of 

 literary excellence in the preparation of re- 

 ports of researches and professional reports. 

 The completion of such a subject, with its ac- 

 companying analysis, practise and criticism, 

 would usefully supplement the training re- 

 ceived in chemical bibliography and would 

 develop a capability which is much needed by 

 chemical graduates. 



It may be noted in passing that, during the 

 academic year 1914^15, distinct courses in 

 chemical literature and in technical reporting 

 were established at the University of Pitts- 

 burgh. Much success has attended this peda- 

 gogic innovation. 



The chemical graduate of to-day is also 

 deplorably deficient in resourcefulness in plan- 

 ning research. While this is an extensive 

 subject, a research student may be trained in 

 correct methods of attack, namely: 



(a) Analytical Methods. — Almost all inves- 

 tigations require analytical control. In no 

 feature of chemical work is there more appar- 



ent an inability to use the analytical training 

 which the man has received. 



(&) Planning the Investigation. — Resource- 

 fulness in separating a problem into its essen- 

 tial factors and in clearly grasping the inter- 

 relationship of these factors is most important. 

 Too many men desire to start in at once and 

 solve the problem at the first attempt. All 

 this might be summed up in the expression 

 " methods of research." 



(c) Apparatus. — The subcommittee has not 

 considered just how a man could be trained 

 to be more resourceful in this respect, but it 

 is surely a marked weakness in the average 

 graduate. While a native cleverness is doubt- 

 less born, and not made, it ought to be possible 

 to give the undergraduate some training in 

 the use of his mental equipment in designing 

 and planning apparatus which is to accom- 

 plish the desired end. 



THE FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE PROMOTION OF 



COOPERATION BETWEEN MANUFACTURERS 



AND THE UNIVERSITIES^ 



The recent impetus imparted to the research 

 activities in American chemical manufac- 

 turing has materially altered the traditional 

 policy of industrial secrecy. A striking illus- 

 tration of this improvement is to be found in 

 the reports of the Industrial Conferences held 

 at the fifty-third meeting of the American 

 Chemical Society." This change in attitude, 

 a natural result of the appreciation of urgent 

 action in industrial research, has long been de- 

 sired by our universities and it will undoubt- 

 edly result in the extension of the practise of 

 referring certain of the problems of industry 

 to university laboratories for study. Many 

 of the numerous problems of chemical as well 

 as mechanical technology could be advantage- 

 ously attacked oiitside of the plants, but some 

 central organization is needed for securing 

 and properly distributing those problems which 

 are pressing. It is clear, however, that stable 



o The president of the American Chemical So- 

 ciety has been authorized to appoint a central 

 committee from representatives of the universities 

 and the industries to study opportunities and to 

 make recommendations for cooperation. 



6 See J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 8 (1916), 947 et seq. 



