SCIENTISTS WILL MEET IN MAY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 395, 17 January 1947, Page 16

SCIENTISTS WILL MEET IN MAY

Sixth New Zealand Congress-First Since 1935

CIENCE (according to J. D. Crowther, scientific correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, in a recent BBC talk on Julian Huxley) is one of the humanities. And, in these days when it has so much meaning for the future of man, it is as well that science and knowledge should be placed, through men like Huxley, at the service of the people. This year New Zealand will hold its sixth Science Congress under the auspices of the Royal Society of New Zealand. It will take — in Wellington between Tuesday, May 20, and Friday, May 23, inclusive. A great many subjects will be discussed, many of them affecting the everyday lives of New Zealand’s people. It is unlikely that anything spectacular will come out of the Congress: thst rarely happens, said Dr. J. T. Salmon, secretary of the Wellington branch of the Royal Society, when The Listener interviewed him. The Congress coricentrates in the main on reviews of scientific

progress and the more recent researches in a variety of fields. But it will probably produce some resolutions to go to the Government-decisions affecting particularly, the status of science’ in this country. To a layman’s eyes the listed subjects, ranging ffom oceanography to pedology (the science of soils) are impressive in their apparent complexity. But one of the greatest problems-and one that must be solved-is to find accommodation for some of the 400 members who are expected to visit Wellington. The only solution the organisers can see at the moment will be a system of billeting. This task confronts the president of the Wellington branch of the Royal Society (H. C. McQueen) and Dr. Salmon. The Congress will be the first for 12 years; one was to have been held, in 1940, but it was stopped by the war. Invitations to attend have been sent to Australian research workers but no replies have been received.so far; | and it is likely that invitations will go

to Britain and America. The meetings, some of which will be held at the Dominion Museum and others at Victoria University College, will be occupied mainly with the reading of papers covering scientific work in many fields. Accent on Social Science Dr. Salmon said that very probably some stress will be laid on social science, with a discussion of this subject from all angles; erosion and afforestation, too, are likely to be thoroughly investigated. Members will have the help of visual aids, including epidiascopes, lanterns, and 16mm. and 35mm. projectors for sound and silent films. The list of subjects comprises the physical, chemical, botanical, zoological, geological, medical, geographical, ethnological, technological, and social sciences. But so far, Dr. Salmon said, there is no indication that atomic energy will be in the programme; still, it is quite possible that someone may present a paper dealing with developments in this field.

Arranging for a gathering of scientists is no light task. Several meetings will be conducted concurrently, each with its own chairman, and with Dr. W. N. Benson, B.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., F.G.S., F.R.G.S., F.R.S.N.Z., of Otago, as president. Cooperating in the discussions will be the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry, the (continued on next page)

(continued ‘from previous page) New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers, the New Zealand Animal Production Society, the Polynesian Society, the New Zealand Institute of Engineers, the New Zealand Institute of Architects, and the New Zealand Geographical Society. Putting it on Paper Then arrangements must be made to publish the proceedings in book form--excluding subjects which are in the purely experimental stage-and for this work stenographers are required. In most cases these are laymen and there is necessarily some checking of obscure scientific terms and names to be done. But many of the visitors are themselves expert note-takers and all combine: to produce scientifically correct reports. Dr. Salmon told us that laymen definitely interested in any particular field would not find the discussions by any means beyond them; even to the uninitiated the discussions at a Congress were generally intelligible. Though social science is down for consideration, there is also a social side to a Congress, and this is also looked on as important. There will most likely be visits to the waterworks scheme at Upper Hutt, to the Railway Workshops, and, of course, to the Dominion Physical Laboratory. Though a set list of subjects has been drawn up, some time will probably be given to other matters. For instance, there has been much speculation in scientific circles about the origin of Cook Strait, and evidence on the formation of. the Manawatu Gorge has been sought for many years. It is not unlikely that somebody will have something to say about these questions. Dr. Salmon returned a few days ago from Lake Waikaremoana where an investigation into damage done tq the bush by animals was carried out. No entomologist, as far as he knew, had been there since Colenso’s day, he said. Deer had eaten out the bush to such. an extent on the Panikirikiri Bluff and also at Wairaumoana, through the lake narrows, that one could almost drive a car through it. Opossums, wild pigs, and wild cows were also responsible and, with wide spaces for high winds to blow through, the fire damage was very real. Here, too, will be a matter for discussion by the Congress. sees yEnnseeensesEenenEnee]