Science in the Service of the State

Abstract

MODERN war is an affair of applied science military, engineering, chemical, medical, economic. Its successful prosecution requires more than an extremely high efficiency on the part of the officers in their professional work. Everything that chemical, physical, and engineering science can suggest must be pressed into service. The scientific men of the country have been keenly aware of this necessity from the beginning of the war, and many of them have individually done a great deal of important work for the Government and the various Services. The Royal Society has formed a War Committee, to which the Government has confided the solution of many pressing scientific problems arising out of the war. The public thanks of the country have been eiven to the Royal Society by Mr. Asquith. We note also with pleasure the issue, by the Councilâ of the Chemical Society, of the letter(see p. 523) announcing that the Council has constituted itself a consultative body to consider, organise, and utilise all suggestions and inventions which may be communicated to it.