ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Abstract

ANNUAL MEETING THE annual meeting of the Royal Society of Canada was held at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, during May 25-27. The scientific sections of the Society held their meetings in the Science Building of the University and the general meetings took place in Convocation Hall. The president of the Society, Prof. J. B. Collip, presented the medals at the evening meeting on May 25. The Flavelle Medal was awarded to Prof. B. P. Babkin, research professor of physiology at McGill University, for his outstanding work in analysing the secretory mechanisms of the digestive glands. Prof. John L. Synge, professor of applied mathematics in the University of Toronto, received the first award of the Henry Marshall Tory Medal for outstanding contributions to applied mathematics; and the Willet G. Miller Medal, also awarded for the first time, was presented to Prof. Norman Levi Bowon, distinguished service professor of petrology in the University of Chicago, in recognition of his contributions to geology. Following the presentation of the medals, Dr. Collip read his presidential address on "Science and War". After briefly reviewing the part played by science in former conflicts, Dr. Collip emphasized the important contributions of physicists, chemists and other men of science in the present War. He dealt in some detail with aviation medicine and the co-operation between the men of science and the armed forces in solving many of the problems which modern warfare presents. He referred to the recognition and support that scientific workers are now receiving as an integral part of the war effort, and pointed out that much of this research work is producing results that will be equally important in the post-war period.