RESEARCH WORK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 722, 22 January 1910, Page 13

RESEARCH WORK.

STIMULATING EFFECTS OF CO'

' ORDJNATION,

[By PEorassoß Sir J. J. ThosibokJ

. Though the researches /made ' by - its members have always been one of tie chief glories of the UnivCTsity of Cam.bridge, and there has, hardly ever : been a time when important' discoveries and ideas were not being developed within its walls, it is only within comparatively, recent years ■ that success.in research has been taken into account asa qualification' for a degree or in elections to fellowships. Now, -however, as .1 hope'.. to show, tho claims of...research- are generously recognised' by. the university; aad by. most of the colleges;'-,- '■'■■' ! '.'.'-:. ■.■■■■ -\ ■■ . -.-.

1 wlt h a? ffUowships,. before 1372 these, were .awarded, almost without excephon,:for success in examinations; ia all colleges, except Trinity these'examinations were the tripos' examinatidns-and though. Jfruuty had its own' examinations for .fellowships, it w.as success in examinations, and' that, alone, that, decided the I election to.: fellowships-- in-;ell the colleges ,m- the .university, rln :1872, howeTOr, ■trinity College' invited mathematical candidates for fellowships'to send in dissertations on subjects of their own- eolection" and announced v that in the eleotiou to fellowships account would be taken of the merits of tUese.vdissertations as well as of the^.-results of the examination. The success of this policy has been remark- 1 able;, it has directed,to research the.attention of the ablest of its" younger members; who niijht: otherwise have devoted themselves to other pursuits. Many' of the dissertations submitted to. the electors have been most important contributions to'science,.and have, -in many cases, marked; the , commencement of soientific careers 'of -the greatest -. distinction. ■"

Dissertations for Fellowships. / ;; The practice of requiring .dissertations' embodying, the results- , of origiial research from candidates; for fellowships is now adopted by most."of the larger col-' .■leges in -.the university,"although in 'Some .of the .smaller, colleges the practice ofawarding, fellowships. for' success, in the..university examinations alone still survives.. A further .recognition.of research by"; the university, was the establishment ,of "the. D.So.' and D.Litt. degrees,. which are. granted .to 'masters of arts of,the university of more than five years' standing .who, apply'for them. and who satisfy the 'Special Board .of Studies' to which they apply that;-their original contribv! tions to :i science or literature arq' ; of the j high ■' standard ; which: has,,' always • been] luaiatainsd. for these degrees.■'•".■' .' " :'.', .A;more.radical.step.towards'.'the recognition of research,'as! a .claim to a degree ;was takon itf 1896, when regulations were introduced 'enabling 1 students-over .21 years of age'. who !■ have already gradunted.'jn; other uiuve'rsities, or" who are able to give 'evideace. of 'special- quali;fie atidns;; to be 'admitted''.to':'the university. Ks ."research: students." 'Applications- for, ■ admission have;to be made,to the Begis•ti'ar of- the.TJniversity, and are'considered. ,by: committees of the ■yarious'boards of study, whOivif they" are satisfied' as to the attainments bf:the applicant," have the powpr.to admit .him', to ,a:"coursei' ; of research." The student •so '.admitted can then ..obtain,. after .two' years' .'residonoo,; in. "■■: the' ' university, : ;. the > BIA.V degree" by.. ■ submitting .-.'.a ■/-'. disserta-'. tion ; ,containing, ah -■;■ account V of,. his researches,.if in the opinioribf the com-' mittee: :qf the: Special/Board, of-Studies to.which' the., work '-is; submitted'.the, dissertation .is of .distinction as. an original: to learning-.'ori'a'. record of original ■ research. ■ The . degree .is. .(jiven for tho : research alone, and no'eiamina-r tions have''to\ be .passed;.'. Itj Ms. work reaohos tho.samevstandard .he. can obtain' a ''-'certificatp. of.-research,".: but not a degreej. after ;: three terms' residence in-, .stead,of--the, six'terms.required: for the '.degree.- .The degree, given: to. these•'stu-i dents,is* the B.A.,degree..-'Xhere who , think—and. in : mf, opinion riihtly-r . that it. would have:-been preferaple'vto institute a. now> degree for researcni : soias to •encourage our own', students who have. already%btaine^-.'rhe''B';A , ;' ; :degree 'by success in : a:' triposT.to''. proceed to researoh "and.obtain another degree.■;'.'.', ■'.'-.• . '-~.,■ 1 Stimulating of Discussion..^ .'A\ i.):

- I' the':data/whiobJ would en--able me' testate how farthese regulationa' ■ Hare attracted. students ill branches. of science other; than -:physics,' but 'at,: the ;'Caveridish?Laboratory'; we -'have Kad'vun-. Dei; .these, regulations rescaroh students from" the' principal: universities '.o£:Eng-' land, Scotland,':lreland,'Wales,-:: Canada, , 'Australia, , ';New'.'Zealand;'South Africa; Mridia/'fhe 'United 'States, ■Prance; 'Ger--many, Austria, 'Hungary,.Poland; 'Russia," ■Sweden, Norway, and. Japan.'One'oi.these students has'r«ceiy«d;.d Nobel prize', four of .'.them; have-'btenVmade' Fellows of the" Eey'al Society,va-hd , 'they-'hold:m6re than twenty-five': :,of: the ; : .most/ , \important' -. professorships .of '■: '■ physics in ■ England; •Ireland, -.Canada,-. New, .Zealand; ■ France, ■ and the. United' States. ■ The: work submitted by '■ these students for their degree forma ,'<t. most valuable and substantial contribution'to physical-:science.. - The association in'one laboratory;'of■ a large of students trained under, very different■ systems-and. regarding/.physical 'problems from -..yery different points, ofc view,;but ; all enthusiastic',, leads to idisoiissions' whose value, in stimulating interest .in science;'.and promoting .tolerance and-catholicity of; sympathy, can hardly ,bo-'oyer-estiniated.-: f Apart, ..too, , from its scientific...-.aspect) the,cosmopolitan character: of..', the : society, makes .it. 1 full , of interest, .and gives J many of our ■ownjstudents ! a. and: vivid knowledge .of. : the trend,of opinion on political.and t social matters in our cold-' nies,' on tho,-.Continent,, and ■in .America than,any they could .obtain from .newspapers or. books.. •: Several colleges have helped and-encouraged this'new development ,-of university., activity. l , .Trinity,St. John- s,. and .Emmanuel .'have given fellowships ..to research ■ students, in physics,, and some of - colleges—notably Emmanuel and Caius—have:, been % most': generous in'-. awarding', scholarships ■ to research students during, their residence in Cam? bridge, and encouraging by. every means in. their power: their. own : undergraduates as well as those who come .to them from other .universities to' devote themselves to > original: researoh.—'.'The Standard." : -~