Abstract
AT a conference organized by the Association of Scientific Workers and held at Birmingham on December 6, the need for greater co–ordination and collaboration in all fields of applied science was urged. The essential part which the scientific worker has to play in the modern community was emphasized by Mr. D. P. Riley, who opened a discussion on “The Responsibilities of the Scientist to the Community”. Not only most of the greatest industries but even agriculture are dependent upon his work if they are to develop rapidly enough to satisfy the needs of the whole community, and in time of war it is even more important that this should be recognized, particularly in view of the five years' start which our enemies have over us in the application of science to war problems. As an interesting example of the need for the proper understanding of the scientific facts underlying certain decisions by those entrusted with executive power, Mr. Riley took the case of the encouragement of the consumption of wholemeal bread on account of its vitamin B content. The fact that this bread also contains an appreciable amount of phytic acid, the calcium salt of which is insoluble, and the consequent danger of avoiding vitamin B deficiency only at the expense of incurring calcium deficiency, has apparently not yet been given attention in public policy. Not only are many scientific workers still not occupied to their full capacity, but they are even in some cases urged to give their attention to the development of post–war plans, as well illustrated by an advertisement in a well–known daily paper describing a sewing–machine made largely of plastics and saying that now is the time to plan its post–war production.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CO–ORDINATION OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL WORK. Nature 148, 759 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1038/148759a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/148759a0