SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 7

SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS.

THE OTAGO INSTITUTE. MR BEGG'S PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. The first ordinary meeting of the Otago Institute for the vear was held at the Museum on Tuesday, the president (]\lr J. C. Begg, F.R.A.S ) occupying the chair. On the motion of the president, in accordance with notice duly given, it was decided to alter the constitution so as to provide that any member who has paid his .subscription for 25 years shall automatically become a life member The subject of Mr Begg’s presidential address was: “Thoughts on the Development of Science/’ and at the outset he explained what had led him to choose such ft wide and general subject. The work of the institute corresponded in a humble way with that of the Royal Society of England and for that reason he thought they should receive wider .support from the public than had been granted them. It was a truism to say that we were living in a scientific age. hut though science had proved its potency it could not take us to ultimates. Science was merely common sense extended and enlarged Science substituted for the instinctive and sporadic efforts of inclivi duals an organised system of knowledge recorded as the result cf observations by many different persons at different times. From the beginning down to our own day the main motive of scientific research had been the practical one. Jle proposed first to deal with some of the outstanding economic and practical results of the scientific age and then with some thoughts regarding its human import and’ the intrinsic significance of scientific knowledge. In response to the call for something better than the power of men and animals was developed the use of steam which heralded the industrial revolution, the results of which were as yet not fully appreciated. Ho threw on the screen a table of figures to show how slow was the increase of population in England and Wales until the beginning of last century. TTie comparative stagnation was due to the repressive influence of economic conditions. The change was brought about by the new economic conditions combined with improved medical knowledge. He thought they could attribute the increase of population to organised scientific knowledge. Referring again to the industrial revolution, the lecturer pointed out that at that time science experienced a favourable reaction. Most people to-day had comforts and conveniences that could not be commanded by beings in past- agss. Even science could not do much without material, and -England was extremely fortunate in possessing large quantities of coal and iron which lay at the bases of modern industry. Coal was now being seriously challenged by oil an<T water as sources of power, England had been able to hold tno world in fee, but it was not likely that she would be able to do so indefinitely. The lecturer next touched on the valuo of science as applied to primary industries, instancing the Importanct of the work being carried on by the Cawthron Institute in Nelson. Much had been accomplished, but a great deal •till remained to be done. He instanced the rabbit pest in New Zealand and Australia and the prickly pear in Queensland which had so far defied all scientific efforts at control. Another allied sphere fojr the application of science was that of productions from the §ea. It had been demonstrated that the efficiency of a man in procuring food from the aea was manyfold greater than his efficiency in procuring food from the land. Splendid work in this direction had been done in New Zealand, in the forefront of which had been an indefatigablo member of the institute, the Hon. G. M. Thomson.—(Applause.) The advances and tasks of medical science were next touohed on. Another factor in stimulating scientific research had been military necessity. The lecturer proceeded to make observations on various divisions of thought referring first to the modern controversy between the theory of separate Individual creation and evolution. Chemistry and physics appeartd to be approaching each other like tunnellers from opposite sides of a hill. Geometry and astronomy were reaching far out in their endeavour to collate the whole physical system. The outstanding discovery in physics was the constitution of the atom, and in this connection he paid a tribute to tho work of Sir Ernest Rutherford, who was regarded as the greatest living scientist. Tho advances of astrouomors in recent years must have astonished those who were wont to regard star-gazing as useless and unpractical. A few slides were here thrown on the screen to illustrate the meaning and use of the spectrum. 110 indicated how the spectroscope conveyed accurate information about the speed, distance, material composition, magnetic condition, pressure, temperature. ana othor attributes of stars moving at inconceivable distances from us in the heavens. Astronomers were coming to discover now that there were different and various kind* of nebulae, and to think that nebulae were really star systems like

our own at immense distances. It had recently been calculated at the Wilson observatory that a nebula in the constellation of Andromeda was distant from us a little less than a million light years. When they remembered that thousands of these nebulae were known the significance of the discovery was obvious. The lecturer dealt last with the study of mind, and said that psychology had given new significance to the sub-conscious mind and showed that the most important part of the mind was that which was out of sight. What import had all this for our outlook on life? We must not be overawed by it all. It had helped in allaying superstition. Science used to be despised as of secondary value and philosophy was to-day somewhat in a similar position, but it would come into its own The choice wa3 not between philosophy and doing without it, but between a true and a false philosophy.—(Applause.) Professor Jack expressed members great appreciation of the president’s fine address. It was an excellent thing for the Institute to have at its head such a man as Mr Begg to keep before them a comprehensive view of the whole of science. He thought it would be much better for people connected with churoh work if they took more interest in the great developments of science.—(Applause.) Scientists themselves did not feel that the studv of physical Ehenomenon could explain all things. On is motion hearty thanks were conveyed by acclamation to the lecturer.