Abstract
AN account of the inauguration and organisation of the National Research Council of the United States was published in our issue of August 3 last (vol. xcvii., p. 465), and the article pointed out that from the cordial interest” shown by all who had learnt of the work in its early stages, it was evident that so soon as a widespread request for co-operation could be extended it would meet with general acceptance. A preliminary report of the Organising Committee to the president of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, published in the August issue of its Proceedings, shows that this expectation has been justified, and some of the first instances of co-operation are given. Prof. G. E. Hale, chairman of the committee, has also sent to the New York Times an account of what is being done in the United States to mobilise science for industrial progress and military efficiency, and we reprint his letter below. It will be seen that the president of the Throop College of Technology in Pasadena, California, an institution which gives special attention to research, hearing of the plans of the Research Council, offered the assistance and co-operation of the recently endowed research laboratory of chemistry, and secured at once an additional endowment of 20,000l. for scientific research. In somewhat similar circumstances a gift of ioo,oooL has been made to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with the expectation that much of the income will be used for research. A resolution of the New York Engineering Foundation expresses approval of the co-ordination and federation of the research agencies of the United States undertaken by the National Academy, and also willingness to assist. The foundation has offered its entire income for the coming year-including a special gift of 1000l.—towards the expenses of organisation and to provide a New York office for the council. Resolutions of a similar kind are to be proposed to other scientific societies in the States.
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HALE, G. The United States National Research Council . Nature 98, 77–79 (1916). https://doi.org/10.1038/098077b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/098077b0