The Scientist in Society

Abstract

WHILE most citizens, including scientists, are aware that the last decade has seen radical changes in their world and in their relationship to society, it still has come somewhat as a shock to the scientist, in particular, to discover the sudden rise in his importance as a critical natural resource—an importance perhaps as great, he is led to believe, as that of iron or anthracite or even petroleum. He has nevertheless become reconciled to the notion of being conserved and stockpiled like other useful substances and has submitted to the dissection and examination of his talents by statisticians and of his past by agents of the FBI.