South African Association for the Advancement of Science

Abstract

THE South African Association for the Advancement of Science held its annual meeting at Paarl on July 1-6. On July 1, Prof. M. M. Rindl, professor of chemistry in Grey University College, Bloemfontein, president of the Association, delivered an address entitled “A Plea for the Establishment of a National Research Council and for the Limitation of a National Research Policy in South Africa”. Replying to criticisms of the Association and its policy, Prof.Rindl said that provision of funds for fostering research in the form of fellowships, scholarships and research grants in South Africa is not ungenerous. Much of this is directly attributable to the persistent agitation of the Association. In its early days, the Association and the Royal Society of South Africa were the only bodies providing research grants from their own funds. Furthermore, the annual award of the South Africa Medal and Grant to a prominent research worker in South Africa has done much to stimulate competition among investigators. As a result of the Association's action, a national committee of intellectual co-operation has been appointed, and it is hoped that the outcome will be the establishment of a National Research Council, and the inauguration of a national research policy on lines similar to those adopted in Great Britain, the Dominions and in many industrialised countries oversea. Another activity of the Association has been to appoint a committee to collect authentic data of the early history of scientific endeavour and industrial achievement in South Africa. With this end in view, the committee is approaching pioneers of science and industry to place on record their reminiscences and the history of the development in the industries which they founded, or with which they have been associated.