USE OF ATOMIC ENERGY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25902, 7 September 1949, Page 5

USE OF ATOMIC ENERGY

INDUSTRY IN BRITAIN

VIEWS OF LEADING SCIENTISTS

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 5. Britain was likely to lag behind the United States in the industrial application of atomic energy “because we are not sufficiently experienced scientists,” said Sir Arthur Fleming, the distinguished British engineer, at the annual conference at Newcastle to-day of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

He said that the war-time development of the atomic bomb had brought great benefits to industry. Large numbers of United States scientists were now gaining experience in the practical application of nuclear physics. A shortage of experienced scientists was more likely to delay corresponding progress in Britain.

Sir Arthur Fleming added that tne economic production of industrial power by nuclear disintegration did not appear likely to be successful lor a long time. Sir Henry Tizard. chairman of the Defence Research Policy Committee and president of the association last vear, said: “I doubt if we shall be far behind when it comes to the industrial •application of discoveries in the study of nuclear phenomena. Unless we can hasten the aoplication of science to industry we shall cease to count among the great nations of the world.”