PLACE OF SCIENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 January 1944, Page 1

PLACE OF SCIENCE

IN POST-WAR WORLD COMPARISON WITH COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS The -Manchester Guardian” report of an address by Mr J. G. Bennett, director of the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, describes some of the results of recent coal research and esti mates their importance in the po3t-war world. With this report it is interesting to compare a summary of recommendations recently adopted by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and submitted to members of Mr Churchill's Cabinet, with a view to reorganising British research facilities for post-war needs. COAL RESEARCH ‘There is no major raw material which is likely to see such an amazing transformation in the manner of its use during the next 20 years as coal," Mr Bennett said. ’This will come about by the application of the scientific method, both to the nature of coal viewed as a chemical compound and also to the utilisation of coal as a source of energy. We may expect to see coal regarded as a high-valued product produced in much smaller quantities than at present, but used to greater advantage and sold at a higher price. The effect of scientific research will thus be to improve the earnings oj miners and make the coal industry far more attractive to young men as a career.” Speaking of the part played by science in recent developments in the coal industry. Mr Bennett mentioned a new method of burning coal which, jt is claimed, will give at least five times the intensity of existing installations. "The research association has been studying the combustion of solid fuel in a way that has certainly not been attempted in any other country. In the last few months, the deputy-direc-tor of the United States Bureau of Mines spent a day in the association's laboratories. When he saw what we were doing on solid fuel combustion research he told us that we were years ahead of anything they were doing in America.” REDUCING SMOKE The value of a scientific approach to coal problems was also seen in regard to smoke abatement, said Mr Bennett, and it had been possible to produce • new design of fireback and method of air control to deal with the problem. “Those who have seen the new fir# in operation will confirm the remarkable way in which the smoke turns Into flame within a very few minutes of the fire being refuelled, even with slack and dusty coal, which, in the oldfashioned fires, would have smouldered and smoked for 20 minutes or more. The fact that a temperature of 600 degrees c. is required to ignite the volatiles had been overlooked by designers of fireplaces and others who. for more than 150 years, have tried to improve the coal fire. • NEW PLASTIC’S PROCESS ‘ From the scientific hypothesis that coal is a colloid a whole range of further experiments and observations has been suggested. These are now being made. They have had quite important practical consequences, including a suggestion for a new process of making plastics from coal.” The importance of improving the efficiency of coal-using equipment was particularly clear to-day. A 1 per cent, increase in efficiency over the present average of say 30 per cent, was equivalent to more than 5,000,000 tons of coal a year, and a small percentage increase in efficiency spelt the whole difference between plenty and dearth of'coal during the remaining critical period of the war. Mr Bennett added: "Any industry where the industrialists and scientists really come together, will make technical progress of a kind that has not been made since the beginning of the industrial epoch.” COMMITTEE’S REPORT Scientific research and the application of scientific knowledge must be promoted on a far bolder and more imaginative scale than in 19. S to 1939 if Britain is to maintain her position in the post-war world and carry out her reconstruction plans, says a report unanimously adopted by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. A proportional expansion of the supply of scientific personnel is urged. This in turn calls for an expansion at the universities and technical colleges and an allround improvement in the teaching of science and scientific principles at all stages of education for the whole school population. As a first step the demobilisation of the large number of scientific persons now on war work or in the Services should be so effectively organised as to enable them to complete their training and to guide them into positions where their previous training and their war experience will be of special value. TRAINING FACILITIES The universities should prepare for a rapid growth in the number of students of science and technology. This will call for an expansion of existing universities, and possibly the development of some existing establishments into new universities. Materials and finance should be made available for the expansion of research schools in the universities. The number, value, and scope of the post-graduate grants awarded by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research also need to be considerably increased. More post-doctoral fellowships are required. Other proposals are:— University staffs, stipends, and buildings should be increased. The present annual Treasury grant to the universities of approximately £2.250,000 .per annum should be increased to £6.000,000 or £7,000,000. The freedom, independence, and diversity of the universities should not be prejudiced in any circumstances, but to ensure the best use of the increased funds and avoid wasteful overlapping they should set up a suitable Universities’ Advisory Council. Need for greater assistance to promising young people already in industry to enable them to take full or part time courses is recommended. Courses in ‘‘laboratory arts” should be instituted, while the supply and training of technical teachers require urgent investigation.