Abstract
OXFORD.—The Romanes lecture—subject, “Science and the Great War ”—was delivered by Prof. E. B. Poulton on December 7 before a large audience, which followed with marked interest and frequent applause the scathing indictment brought by the lecturer against the ruling powers of this country for their neglect of the teachings of science with regard to the conduct of the war. Prof. Poulton showed how by their refusal to benefit by the expert knowledge which might have been at their command for the asking, the Government had actually played into the hands of the enemy. This was especially apparent in the case of the materials for the manufacture of high explosives and in that of the importation into Germany of foodstuffs. The evil had to some extent been stopped, thanks, in the matter of cotton, to agitation by the Press; but it was still far from being at an end. The most deadly kind of war was one waged by a ruthless enemy employing to the full all the resources of modern science. Such an enemy we were now being called on to face, and our only hope of success lay in using those means which were ready to our hands if the authorities could be induced to apply for information and assistance in the proper quarters.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
University and Educational Intelligence . Nature 96, 415–416 (1915). https://doi.org/10.1038/096415a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/096415a0