Abstract
THE papers in this volume, sponsored by Imperial Oil, Ltd., were presented at the first annual conference of the Chemical Institute of Canada, held at Quebec in June 1945, and although, as might be expected, of uneven merit, afford a conspectus of scientific research in Canada in some respects broader than that given by the annual reports of the National Research Council. Dr. C. J. Mackenzie's contribution, “Government Sponsored Research”, goes far beyond the narrower limits which his position as president of that Council might impose, and he discusses the particular problem of the industrial research association in Canada in view of the relatively few large industrial units in Canada. Dr. Mackenzie looks forward to the activities of Government-sponsored laboratories, such as those of the National Research Council, being directed almost exclusively to the more fundamental aspects of applied research; but he indicates that in the meantime the National Research Council will foster industrial research either on a co-operative basis or through agencies of the type of the Mellon Institute. Dr. R. K. Stratford, chief research chemist of Imperial Oil, Ltd., in his contribution “The Co-ordination of Research in-Canada”, also discusses the relations between fundamental and applied research, emphasizing/ the importance of maintaining a reasonable balance between the man-power engaged in industrial research and in fundamental research in the universities; and he suggests the establishment of technical institutes to help co-ordinate and improve the efficiency of technical men engaged in field service or development work, a suggestion which is elaborated in some detail by Prof. P. Rion.
Research in Canada
Planning for the Coming Years. Papers given at the Symposium of the Chemical Institute of Canada, Quebec City, June 1945. Pp. vii + 160. (Sarnia, Ont.: Imperial Oil, Ltd., 1946.)
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BRIGHTMAN, R. Research in Canada. Nature 159, 589 (1947). https://doi.org/10.1038/159589a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/159589a0