NEED FOR SCIENTISTS
BRITAIN’S POSITION
SERIOUS SHORTAGE AHEAD Great Britain, states the Barlow report on Scientific Manpower published recently, can least of all nations at the moment afford to neglect her scientific talent, and intelligence tests have shown that it is, in fact, being neglected. The universities’ production of' 2500 trained scientists annually is only about half what will be needed if we are to be adequately equipped by 1955. At that date 90,000 scientists will be wanted for education, commerce and defence, Hut at the present rate of training only 65,000 will be available. How is the gap to be bridged? Short-term policy includes every possible effort by the Ministry of Labour to bring scientific- worker apd employer together and a speedy evacuation of any university premises still held by the Government. Long-term policy includes the development at some technical colleges of technological courses of degree standard and an increased output by the universities themselves of technologists—though these must not be allowed to swamp the pure scientists. The universities as a whole have stated that they can increase their students by about 45 per cent. That is not enough, and the Government must give far more generous and steady financial help. Also, the foundation of at least one new university should be considered.
Some of the questions arising from these recommendations the committee answers itself. Is all the emphasis to be on science? Here the Report is plain. An increase is also needed in graduates in the humanities, languages and fine' arts; and a university should be “an association . . -. which takes all knowledge as its province.” The committee is likewise opposed -to any infringement of independence, though it does believe that the machinery for adjusting university policy to the needs of the country might be improved. A third question is not answered. If a new industry is to be founded, under whose auspices is it to be?
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 89, 3 February 1947, Page 5
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318NEED FOR SCIENTISTS Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 89, 3 February 1947, Page 5
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