LOSS TO CAMBRIDGE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 217, 11 June 1935, Page 6

LOSS TO CAMBRIDGE

Scientist Kept in Russia

Cambridge has learned with great regret that Dr. Peter Kapitza, F.R.S., Fellow of Trinity College, Director of the Royal Society Mond Laboratory and Messel Professor of the Royal Society, is not likely to return to Cambridge for some time, if at all, wrote a correspondent of "The Times” on April 24. Dr. Kapitza, for whose researches in intensive magnetic fields the Royal Society made a grant of £15,000 to build a new laboratory at Cambridge, -paid r. visit to Soviet Russia during the Long Vacation for the purpose of attending a conference, and has not been allowed to return to the university of his adoption.

Dr. Kapitza’ had been working in conjunction with Lord Rutherford, the Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics, who first noticed the brilliant young scientist when be was Clerk Maxwell Scholar at Cambridge in 192”, .d was instrumental in securing for him the appointment as the first director of the Royal Society Mond Laboratory. During the past two years since the laboratory was opened Dr. Kapitza bad been conducting experiments in a new and simple type of helium liquefier, and was expected to reach some extremely valuable conclusions In this field of research very shortly. Beyond confirming the statement that Dr. Kapitza was unable to leave Russ'u at the present time, Lord Rutherford stated that he had nothing further to add.

Ths following statement was given to a Press representative by the Soviet Embassy As a result of the extraordinary development of the national economy of tho U.S S.R., the number of scientific workers available does not suffice, and in these circumstances the Soviet Government has found it necessary to utilise for scientific activities within the country the services of Soviet scientists who have hitherto been working abroad.

Dr. Kapitza belongs to this category. He has been appointed director of a new institute for physical research under the Academy ot Sciences. This institute has been specially founded for him b.v the Soviet Government, ami large sums have been set aside for the building and its equipment under the directorship of Dr Kapitza. and in accordance witli his desires and requirements, So far is his personal life is concerned, be is comfortably situated and receives a good remuneration.