GEOLOGY AFTER THE WAR 185 



tion has been greatly interfered with. Thousands of scientific men have 

 left their laboratories and class-rooms to plnnge with intense earnestness 

 into war problems. 



In many cases the specialist has been taken entirely out of the field of 

 his science, which has thereby suffered a clear loss. In others the war 

 problem has involved application of science to unusual ends with a gain 

 to engineering or technology, and in a small number of instances the new 

 work has been itself a research, with mutual benefit to the science and 

 some particular application. 



It is now time to survey the situation and see how much of good and 

 how much of evil there is in it. We may be sure that in every experience in 

 applying scientific knowledge to practical ends there is a benefit for science 

 if we will but recognize and utilize it. On the other hand, there is great 

 and manifest danger in a demoralization of the organized methods of 

 progress in science. 



The greatest benefit to science in general coming out of the recent war 

 experiences lies in the fact that there has never before been a period in 

 the history of the world when the truth of the proverb, ^^Knowledge is 

 power,^' was so clearly demonstrated. The practical value of organized 

 knowledge — that is, science — has been emphasized to every engineer, in- 

 dustrial leader, and Government executive who has real understanding. 

 This greatly increased appreciation of the store of knowledge resulting 

 from research should be of the highest importance in the future develop- 

 ment of science. 



Another and complementary source of profit from the war experiences 

 of scientific men should be derived from the greater breadth of view they 

 themselves must have henceforth as regards the relations of their profes- 

 sional work to the development of civilization. Many an investigator 

 must have come to a better realization of the duty laid upon him to con- 

 sider the bearings of his researches on the welfare of mankind. 



The evils or dangers of the present situation are, however, perhaps 

 more distinct and imminent than the benefits. It is to be feared that 

 the recognition of the value of the scientific man's accomplishments will 

 not go far enough, as a rule. Many specialists are sure to be wanted in 

 technical positions, with a remuneration far beyond what they have re- 

 ceived while engaged in teaching or in research. Will the industrial or 

 executive agencies profiting by the training their scientific assistants 

 have received in the field or laboratory realize the necessity of contribut- 

 ing a generous support to the prosecution of research in the abstract, that 

 the store of new knowledge applicable to useful ends may continue to 

 increase? Will it be recognized that the spirit of devotion to scientific 



XTII — Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. 30, 1918 



