AUSTRALASIAN SCIENTISTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1027, 17 January 1911, Page 4

AUSTRALASIAN SCIENTISTS.

ADDRESS BY 'PROFESSOR. LABYV. "It is rather.interesting to find, that physicists trained in tho Australasian. Universities are advancing science in all 1 parts of the world," observed Professor. Laby in his address on January 9 before Section A of the Science. Conference. "Most of the theories and discoveries'in. radio-activity we owe to Professor Rutherford, of Christchurch," he said, "and new views as to the conduction of electricity through gases to Professor Willisch (Sydney), important contributions to the theory of light to President ■Maclaurin. (Auckland), many and varied researches in ionization,to Dr. Kleeman (Adelaide), the organisation of metallurgical research at the National Physical laboratory, London, to Dr. Rosenhaiii (Melbourne),' tho establishment of; an institution for the training of those engaged in optical industries of iondon to Mr. Chalmers (Sydney), of spectroscopia research to Professor Duffield (Adelaide), Graj' (MelbWne), Lusby (Sydney), Glasson (Adelaide), Plorance (New. Zealand) aro .all contributing researches in physics from various English laboratories. It is', to be hoped that in the future an increasing amount of suoh investigations, will be ' carried out in Australasian laboratories, so that these laboratories will come to be generally regarded not merely as places where existing knowledge is expounded, but where new knowledge is obtained, where there flourishes an enlightening, spirit of investigation. When our laboratories come to be gener-. ally ■ regarded in this light, it can but increase their reputation in. all directions, and make the community have that confidence in. science .which is. so. typical of the German people, . and so intimately connected with their - unprecedented industrial progress. Science in Australia, by the departure of Professor Bragg to England, lost a. mathematician and physicist of world-wide reputation, and a man whom,'on many .other grounds, the small band of workers in physics could ill spare. But the wider influence Professor Bragg now has is a gain to science .generally."