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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLII. No. 1093 



this group include lack of material facilities, 

 lack of time and lack of organization. Each 

 of these may be briefly considered in turn. 



The material facilities necessary for re- 

 search include laboratories and equipment of 

 various kinds, supplies, instruments, technical 

 assistants, books, etc. It is customary to cite 

 lack of adequate facilities of this kind to ex- 

 plain shortcomings in scientific productivity. 

 And there is no doubt that more generous pro- 

 vision for these things would greatly facilitate 

 many lines of research work. But, generally 

 speaking, I believe that this factor is some- 

 what overrated. The man who does nothing 

 because facilities are inadequate would usually 

 accomplish but little even with unlimited re- 

 sources. On the other hand, the man whose 

 heart is in his research work will rarely fail 

 to secure adequate support, if he perseveres 

 and demonstrates his interest and capability. 



Inadequate support of research work is 

 sometimes ascribed to lack of appreciation on 

 the part of university administrative officers, 

 who control the purse-strings. This is usually 

 an unjust accusation. University officers as 

 a rule are keenly anxious to encourage and 

 support research work, but they in turn are 

 always more or less hampered by financial 

 limitations. With the present evidently in- 

 creasing popular interest in and appreciation 

 of scientific work, however, we may confidently 

 expect in the future more generous provision 

 of funds available for this purpose. Even the 

 " man in the street " can see how Germany has 

 increased her efficiency by systematic encour- 

 agement of scientific research. America is 

 likewise beginning to realize that this is not 

 a luxury but a necessity, for which generous 

 support must be provided. 



Even more than lack of facilities, lack of 

 time is an obstacle very frequently encountered 

 by university research workers. Many uni- 

 versity men are carrying a burden of routine 

 teaching which, if well done, must greatly en- 

 croach upon the time absolutely essential for 

 serious research work. In many cases, a con- 

 siderable amount of routine administrative 

 duties, committee work, etc., is added. Under 

 these conditions, which shall be neglected — 



teaching, administrative work, or research? 

 Or should one risk the danger of overwork by 

 trying to keep up with all? Surely this is a 

 question hard to answer. The proper solution 

 is of course to provide a sufficient staff to 

 handle the routine teaching and administra- 

 tion, and at the same time leave adequate time 

 free for research. In a rapidly growing uni- 

 versity, however, it is difficult to make this 

 provision. But conditions are improving in 

 this respect, and comparatively few men are so 

 overburdened with routine work as to pre- 

 clude a reasonable amount of time for re- 

 search. 



Lack of time for research work is often due 

 not so much to the actual amount of other 

 work as to waste of time. By carefully plan- 

 ning our university work, much time could be 

 saved. There is too much " scatterment." All 

 too frequently we allow minor routine duties 

 to break in at all times. These minor details 

 should be concentrated so far as possible at 

 certain designated periods, so as to leave un- 

 interrupted consecutive time free for research. 

 A set of office-hours established and rigidly 

 kept wiU gain a surprisingly large amount of 

 time otherwise frittered away. Thus one seri- 

 ous obstacle to research may be readily re- 

 moved. 



Finally, I believe that another obstacle of 

 importance in many cases is the lack of a 

 proper organization of the research work itself. 

 For the best results, careful, systematic plan- 

 ning is necessary. Too often investigation is 

 taken up in a haphazard sort of way, which is 

 likely to result in failm-e. While no rule can 

 be made which will apply to all cases, it is 

 certainly true that the topic to be investi- 

 gated should be carefully considered before 

 the work is imdertaken. The literature 

 should be scanned sufficiently to make sure that 

 the contemplated problem has not already been 

 solved, and to render available the experience 

 of others in similar fields. Work should not 

 be undertaken until the necessary facilities 

 are assiu-ed to carry it through. In general, a 

 broad fundamental problem of which success- 

 ive phases may be worked out tlarough a series 

 of years will prove more profitable than a num- 



