GERMAN SCIENTISTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1946, Page 6

GERMAN SCIENTISTS

ASSISTANCE TO BRITISH EMPIRE RESEARCH PROPOSALS SYDNEY, July 30. German scientists could help the Empire to tackle the tremendous problems of the future, said Sir David' Rivett, chairman of the Australian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. He was reviewing the result of the series of recent scientific conferences in Britain. “The Empire lacks scientific leaders in sufficient numbers to tackle the problems of the future. W r e might obtain some relief by employing larger numbers of German scientists. A surprising number of senior German scientists of established reputations and the highest attainments are anxious to start careers outside Germany. I heard of many men holding important positions in German industrial organisations who' are eager to accept quite modest positions in Australia if given the chance to emigrate.” Sir David added that the outlook for recruiting experienced British research workers for Australia was poor. He said that an accelerated exchange of information was needed, together with the utmost co-ordina-tion of research activity. Two suggestions for overcoming the immediate difficulties which had emerged from the recent scientific conferences were, firstly, the employment of a number of German scientists in both Britain and the Dominions; and secondly, special arrangements with transport companies by which a yearly quota of man-miles could be allotted to Empire scientists to enable them to undertake inter-Empire journeys, rapidly, economically and at short notice. Alternatively, he said, there should be established a special air fleet under the control of the Royal Society or some other central organisation expressly for the use of travelling scientists.