Abstract
Scientists and scientific practice in America underwent a dramatic transformation between 1915 and 1945 as both became fully integrated into American institutions of power. The catalyst for this change was the creation of the National Research Council (NRC). Launched during World War I by scientific entrepreneurs, the NRC played a significant role in the interwar years and beyond by connecting science to industry, foundations, the government, universities, and the public in the interwar years. The financial support from the private sector spurred news research agendas in chemistry, biology, and physics, which allowed the full maturation of American Science in these fields. The second generation of scientific entrepreneurs laid the groundwork for World War II–era government-sponsored organizations, such as the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) that supported research on atomic bombs, proximity fuses, radar, and mass production of penicillin. The experience in World War II laid the foundation for the rise of government-financed Big Science after 1945.
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