News and Views

Abstract

In his presidential address to the British Association at Oxford in 1926, and on many other occasions, the Prince of Wales has shown that he is fully aware of the part that scientific research and invention can play in promoting the welfare of the human race. He returned to the subject in the course of his presidential address to the Congress of the Universities of the Empire, delivered in Guildhall on July 3. “It is borne in upon us daily more clearly” he said, “that the material progress of mankind will depend in an ever-increasing degree on the application of modern science to modern industry”. In our leading article this week (p. 45), we have dealt with the chemical industry of Great Britain, and it is shown that while it is suffering from the present world-wide economic depression, yet it has suffered less than other industries. It owes its position to the technical progress which has been made, and to appreciation of scientific methods in research, management, and salesmanship. Here is an immediate justification of the Prince of Walcs's remarks, if such be needed. By his wide travels within and beyond the British Empire, the Prince has had unrivalled opportunities of acquiring broad views of men and affairs. This gives added weight to his words, which will, we hope, help towards a fuller recognition of the value of the scientific worker to the community. At the same time, the scientific worker must himself be prepared to take his share of civic responsibility, as indeed in most cases he is fully competent to do.