“Frustration of Science” Exhibition

Abstract

THE Scientists' Section of the Left Book Club held an exhibition on May 17–22 at the Unity Theatre, Goldington Street, N.W.I, illustrating “The Frustration of Science”. Charts, pictures and select quotations illustrated the contrast between science as a constructive force in society and science as a weapon of destruction, science as a means towards arousing and satisfying communal needs and science merely as an instrument forprofit. Side by side with evidence of the increasing concentration on productivity from the soil was shown the destruction of commodities and foodstuffs. Alongside the figures showing the multiplication of productivity was widespread evidence of malnutrition and scarcity. The meagre sum spent on health research was contrasted with that devoted to investigations in chemical warfare; and the repression of scientific work and the destruction of scientific opportunity in Fascist countries were pointedly illustrated. Comparative graphs showed the speed-up in production thatfollows from rationalization, and the lag that exists between this and the index of wage rates. In the advertising of fictitious remedies for all kinds of diseases, approximately £3,000,000 per annum is spent, as compared with £139,000 per annum expended from Government sources on medical research in Great Britain. A total retail turn-over of these remedies amounts to £20,000,000 per annum.