Abstract
MAY I be allowed to suggest that it would be a great help to many interested in science if an authorised body, such as the British Association, were occasionally to indicate paths of research work in different branches of science, especially in physics and chemistry, which would offer a reasonable prospect of leading to useful results? Many, especially among those engaged in educational work away from London, have not the advantage of continued intercourse with the leaders of scientific thought which would give them the opportunity of forming a judgment themselves, and the fear of having been forestalled by others makes them hesitate to devote the time required for a sustained course of experimental research. Within the writer's experience, men whose judgment carries great weight do not individually feel inclined to give advice which they consider ought primarily to be devoted to the advancement of their own students. The advantages of a laboratory, of leisure time, and of a desire to add their quota to the stock of knowledge are not, by the wise, thrown away, but a great deal of energy, at present more or less dissipated, might be diverted into more useful channels if the above suggestion were carried out—offering each one the opportunity of choosing that particular line of research which most nearly satisfies the conditions in which he is placed. The idea might be still further developed by associating workers together for a common end, even at the risk of not being able to eliminate the personal factor.
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WOOLLCOMBE, W. Research Work. Nature 50, 124 (1894). https://doi.org/10.1038/050124d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/050124d0
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