Co-ordination of Research

Abstract

THE Research Co-ordination Committee, which was formed a few months ago as the result of an informal meeting of persons connected with organisations interested in the application of science to present-day problems (see NATURE, February 22, p. 311), reported on its activities at a meeting on May 23 to the group from which it arose. The Committee, after making a preliminary list of problems which need co-ordination, decided to consider one or two in detail and to work out a technique of co-ordination that could be generally employed. This, it is claimed, has been achieved. Given two persons sufficiently interested in coordinating the material relating to an important problem, and ready to devote to it one full evening a week, the Committee will undertake to help them in elucidating the various aspects of the problem and in bringing together the organisations concerned. The Research Co-ordination Committee has been fortunate in obtaining the co-operation of many organisations interested in various aspects of the housing question. Among these are the Housing Centre, Architectural Association, Modern Architectural Research Association, Architects and Technicians Organisation, Society of Women Estate Managers, Kitchen Planning Centre, Women's Gas Council, Institute of Sociology, etc. The Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Housing Section of the Ministry of Health have also provided assistance.