New U.S. Research Post

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30982, 11 February 1966, Page 1

New U.S. Research Post

Dr. T. O. Jones, director of Antarctic programmes in the United States National Science Foundation, has a new additional job in the same organisation. He is also director of the division of environmental sciences which was formed last December.

The new division is responsible for research in atmospheric sciences. geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and oceanography. Dr. Jones puts it more simply. “Our job is to preserve and make best use of the whole environment of this earth that we are damaging so fast that we threaten its existence,” he said in ; Christchurch yesterday.

There were the obvious dangers of radioactive fallout, air and water pollution, and bad husbandry of animals and land. i “Even in traffic we don’t

learn our lessons," said Dr. Jones. “I saw a short traffic jam in Wellington. If you don't act you and we will have them 24 hours a day. We in the United States have made enough mistakes, goodness knows, and you ought to learn from us.” Dr. Jones said he beard a key to the problem a few minutes earlier. Someone mentioned “Wellington’s weather." It was not Wellington’s weather; It had come from somewhere else, happened to be passing Wellington, and would then move on again.

“We are all in on every feature of our environment on this earth, and we should all be in on its study,” Dr. Jones said.

If only the wrongs done by man could be righted it would be a great achievement, but after that there were great things to be tried in truly understanding and benefiting from the environmental sciences.

“One lovely thing about them is that they know no political or national boundaries,” he said. “It’s going to take a whole i lot of fundamental research

and I'm willing to listen to anyone here who has ideas," Dr. Jones said. Died Of Scalds.— Muffit Victor Peni, aged eight, of Tokaanu. died in the Taumarunui Hospital on Wednesday after being accidentally scalded.—(P.A.)