NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
413 
Division of Chemistry and Chemical Technology. — In addition to the regular 
meetings on Wednesday and Friday mornings the Division held a special 
evening meeting on August 28 for the purpose of discussing the arrangement of 
courses and recommending curricula for the war training of chemists and 
chemical engineers; this conference was attended by practically all of those 
now resident in Washington who are especially interested in chemical educa- 
tion. This matter had been referred to a special committee, the active mem- 
ers of which were H. P. Talbot and E. W. Washburn, who as a result of a 
questionnaire, had drawn up sample curricula designed to fit the special condi- 
tions now obtaining. It was found that the additional chemists required in 
the near future for government work will exceed 2000, with the probability 
that the needs for industrial work will be equally large. Analysis of the gov- 
ernment requirements shows that about one-third of the number will need 
only training sufficient to enable them to carry out routine analytical and 
control work; the remainder will require a good general training with some 
degree of special training in one of the following: (a) physical chemistry, in- 
cluding electrochemistry and metallography; (b) organic chemistry , explosives 
in particular; (c) food and sanitary chemistry; (d) physiological chemistry; 
(e) chemical engineering. In accordance with the requirements two cur- 
ricula, one for chemistry and one for chemical engineering, were proposed, 
for the purpose of training men needed as rapidly as possible; and after de- 
tailed consideration and discussion, two such sample curricula were recom- 
mended to the special committee of the War Department in charge of the 
whole matter. 
The work of discovering chemical problems arising out of the war and as- 
signing them to men at the universities and colleges is growing rapidly. To 
date thirty-four problems have been formulated, most of which have already 
been assigned, with the understanding that the research work will be prose- 
cuted actively and that frequent reports of progress will be submitted to the 
Division. The list of subjects cover a wide range, from questions connected 
with chemical warfare to questions of conservation of materials a shortage of 
which is imminent. 
Division of Geology and Geography. — In the absence of Messrs. Merriam 
and Cross, Mr. Gregory has acted as Chairman of the Division and 
also of the Section on Relations with Educational Institutions and State Com- 
mittees. The chief work of the Division during August has been as follows: 
1. Conferences with the Committee on Education and Special Training 
of the War Department with regard to plans for instruction in geology and 
geography for Army Training Units. * 
2. Conferences with geographers located in and near Washington with re- 
gard to geological instruction in universities and Army Camps during the 
period of the war. 
3. Preparation of text books on Military Geology and Topography, Intro- 
ductory Meteorology, and a syllabus on the Geography of Europe. Intro- 
