PLACE OF SCIENCE IN POST-WAR WORLD

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24151, 10 January 1944, Page 4

PLACE OF SCIENCE IN POST-WAR WORLD

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

The “Manchester Guardian” report of an address by Mr J. G. Bennett, director of the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, describes some of the results of recent coal res earch and estimates their importance in the post-war world. With this report it is interesting to compare a summary of recommendations recently adopted by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and submitted to members of Mr Churchill's Cabinet, with a view to reorganising British research facilities for postwar needs COAL RESEARCH

“There is no major raw material which is likely to see such an amazing transformation in the manner of its use during the next 20 years as coal, ’ Mr Bennett said. “This will come about by the application of the scientific method, both to the nature of coal viewed as a chemical compound and also to the utilisation of coal as a source of energy. We may expect to see coal regarded as a high-valued product produced in much smaller quantities than at present, but used to greater advantage and sold at a higher price. The effect of scientific research will thus be to improve the earnings of miners and make the coal industry far more attractive to young men as a career.” , , Speaking of the part played by science in recent developments in the coal industry, Mr Bennett mentioned a new method of burning coal which, it is claimed, will give at least five times the intensity of existing installations. “The research association • has been studying the combustion, of solid fuel in a way that has certainly not been attempted in any other country. In the last few months, the deputy-direc-tor of the United States Bureau of Mines spent a day in the association’s laboratories. When he saw what we were doing on solid fuel combustion research' he told us that we were years ahead of anything they were doing in America.” Reducing Smoke The value of a scientific approach to coal problems was also seen in regard to smoke abatement, said Mr Bennett, and it had been possible to produce a new design of fireback and method of air control to deal with the problem. “Those who have seen the new fire in operation will confirm the remarkable way in which the smoke turns into flame within a very few minutes of the fire being refuelled, even with slack and dusty coal, which, in the oldfashioned fires, would have smouldered and smoked for 20 minutes or more. The fact that a temperature of 600 degrees c. is required to ignite the volatiles had been overlooked by designers of fireplaces and others who, for more than 150 years, have tried to improve the coal fire. New Plastics Process

“From the scientific hypothesis that coal is a colloid a whole range of further experiments and observations has been suggested. These are now being made. They have had quite important practical consequences, including a suggestion for a new process of making plastics from coal.” < The importance of improving the efficiency of coal-using equipment was particularly clear to-day. A 1 per cent, increase in efficiency over the present average of say 30 per cent, was equivalent to more than 5,000.000 tons

of coal a year, and a small percent* ' age increase in efficiency spelt the whole difference between plenty and dearth of coal during the remaining critical period of the war. 6 Mr Bennett added: “Any industry where the industrialists and scientists really come together, will make technical progress of a kind that has not been made since the beginning of the industrial epoch.” COMMITTEE’S REPORT \ Scientific research, and the applica* .• tion of scientific knowledge must be promoted on a far bolder and more ? imaginative scale than in 1919 to 1939 "1 if Britain is to maintain her position in > the post-war world and carry out her re- , construction plans, says a report unanimously adopted by the Parliamentary ' ’ and Scientific Committee. A propor- ' „ tional expansion of the supply of scien- £ tific personnel is urged. This in turn I calls for an expansion at the univer- I sities and technical colleges and an allround improvement in the teaching of s science and scientific principles at all : stages of education for the whole school ■ population. ■ -f As a first step the demobilisation 0! ■ the large number of scientific persons now on war work or in the Services should be so effectively organised as to .... enable them to complete their training and to guide them into positions where their previous training and their war J experience will be of special value. | Training Facilities

The universities should prepare for a rapid growth in the number of students of science and technology. This will call for an expansion of existing universities, and possibly the development of some existing establishments into new universities.

Materials and finance should be made :' available for the expansion of research schools in the universities. The number, J value, and scope of the post-graduate grants awarded by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research also ' need to be considerably increased, ■ - More post-doctoral fellowships are re- ’’ quired. Other proposals are:— 'V University staffs, stipends, and build-' ■*- ings should be increased.

The present annual Treasury grant to - the universities of approximately ■ £2,250,000 per annum should be in- ' creased to £6,000,000 or £7,000,000. The freedom, independence, and diversity of the universities should not be prejudiced in any circumstances, but '. to ensure the best use of the increased Jfunds and avoid wasteful overlapping they should set up a suitable Uni- 1 versities’ Advisory Council.

; Need for greater assistance to promis- - ing young people already in industry 1 to enable them to take .full or part time ' courses is recommended. Courses in “laboratory arts” should be instituted, while the supply and training of tech- J nical teachers require urgent investi- ■■ gation.