The Press THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1949. University Research Centres

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25713, 27 January 1949, Page 4

The Press THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1949. University Research Centres

By its decision to foster the establishment of research centres of international standard in the branches of science important to the national welfare the Senate of the University of New Zealand will do much to make the University an institution for the advancement of knowledge as well as its dissemination. Though active research is always necessary for sound teaching in the University, Michael Polyani, a distinguished physical chemist, formerly at the University of Manchester, has pointed out that while countries such as Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, and Mexico have built great modern cities with spacious universities, they have rarely succeeded in founding important schools of research. Their total current scientific production before the war was still less than the single contributions of Denmark, Sweden or Holland. Nominally there are no schools of research in New Zealand, although certain professors and lecturers have built up schools in particular fields, and brilliant work has been and is being done. Lack of finance, staff, and equipment, however, has prevented the University from combining research and teaching in the correct proportions. As Professor L. R. Richardson said in an article in “ New Zealand Science Review ”, the conditions encouraging staff to pursue research are not those of constant teaching and administrative strain. One serious result of the inability of the University to provide facilities for research work has been the departure of brilliant science graduates from New Zealand. Some research work in the Dominion is carried on through a system of scholarships and fellowships, but most of the valuable scholarships are held overseas. Many of them could be held in New Zealand with benefit both to the student and the country; and the establishment of the research centres envisaged by the Senate may eventually enable this to be done. While the very best of our research workers must go to centres of higher learning than New Zealand can provide, they may be persuaded to return if the proposed research centres gain international renown and attract men of high standing from overseas. The need for such centres was well explained by Lord Rutherford in an address .to the Conference of International Scientists shortly before his death.

It is imperative that the universities should be in a position not only to give a sound theoretical and practical instruction in the various branches of science, but what is more difficult, to select from the main body of scientific students those who are to be trained in the methods of research. Experience has shown that the progress of science depends in no small degree on the emergence of men of outstandirig originality of mind who are endowed with a natural capacity for scientific investigation and for stimulating and directing the work of others along fruitful lines. New Zealand will not obtain these men or retain them, unless they can be trained in research methods by teachers who are themselves researchers, and given facilities for research work in their own country. The University cannot provide the training or facilities unless it is better financed and better equipped, and is able to pay the teachers according to their worth. Since it has no large research endowments similar to those enjoyed by universities in other countries, the cost will have to be met from State funds. The Senate has decided to ask the Government to increase the present research grant from £ 10,000 to £15,000 a year; but greater assistance from the State will be needed if the University is to carry on its teaching in the spirit of research, and do work which will not only benefit the nation, but also extend the boundaries of knowledge.