The progress and organization of science in the U. S. S. R

Abstract

Allow me first of all to express my deep gratitude for this honour: to speak before the Royal Society, before Britain’s foremost scientists. Your President suggested to me that I speak about the organization of science in the Soviet Union. This is no easy task, because the organization of science cannot be considered apart from its development. Nor can one avoid making certain assessments of various scientific trends, and here there are always pitfalls. I must also ask you to excuse me in advance if I happen to lapse into some commonplace generalities about science and its significance, but so much has already been said on the subject that one can scarcely be original in dealing with it. Nevertheless, it is here that I shall begin. In our day we very often hear it said that in the twentieth century science has come to play a special role in the development of society and the role of the state in organizing science has been enhanced. For centuries science has been a motive force of progress, and in advanced countries governments have been at pains to found universities, which have been centres of learning. There is no doubt, however, that never before did the scope of research and the number of people occupied in it increase as rapidly as they are doing today. Man has realized that major technical advances nowadays depend on harnessing less and less conspicuous natural phenomena, hidden deeper and deeper from view.