G

I ~

I I

*W tII If:- :-:

AR A A:==

3, '. Ia .

*::X * Sm *

Jit li.

PACKARD INSTRUMENT COMPANY, INC.2200 WARRENVILLE ROAD-DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. 60515TELEPHONE: 312/969-6000

Please send me your new 28-pageChemical Price List

Name

Title

Company

Address

City State Zip-

Circle No. 80 on Readers' Service Card

agreed national IBP plans is not re-tarded through lack of funds. But thereare now 55 countries which formallyparticipate in this program, and a num-ber of others which make contributionsthereto. Although the national programsof most are relatively modest comparedwith that of the U.S., many of theirprojects have already been in operationfor several years, and results are be-ginning to come forward. A compre-hensive index of national projects,which will be published shortly, in-clides more than 15500 entries classifiedtinder the seven main section headingsand some 50 themes of the agreed in-ternational program.Take the theme, for example. of the

grassland ecosystems of the world: thelargest study vet proposed and alreadyunderway is the Matador Project inCanada, and there are 40 other grass-land projects of some 20 other coun-tries. One of the biggest, in Colorado.will now go forward with a grant of$350,000 from the National ScienceFoundation. The U.S. is also a majorcontributor to a coordinated programon the study of human adaptability toliving in the Arctic zone. It would behighly regrettable if U.S. scientists hadto defer scheduled studies of certainEskimo popullations, but this would notstop other countries which contributeto this particular theme, namely Can-ada, Denmark, Finland, France. andSweden, from continuing their parallelinvestigations on Eskimos, Scolt Lapps,and other Arctic peoples.The U.S. plans for new biological re-

search under IBP have been carefullydeveloped by many leading scientists,under the guidance of Roger Revelleand Frank Blair as sLiccessive chairmenof the national IBP committee. To with-draw or defer these plans will obviouslyretard, but will not necessarily prevent.the achievement of IBP in reaching itsgoals. I am sure that all other partici-pating countries, as well as IBP inter-national, trust that ways will be foundthrough the present financial impasse.

E. B. WORTHINGTONCentral Office,Itnternational Biological Prograrnine,7 Marylebone Road, Lonidon, N. W. 1

Mathematics: Catalyst to Science

The National Study of MathematicsRequirements for Scientists and Engi-neers survey reported by G. H. Miller(17 May. p. 742) provides some inter-

esting facts. bLit omits many others...My major disagreements with the studyare:

1) It has assumed that science inthe future will consist simply of more

people doing the same things beingdone today. The scientists respondingto the survey were reporting on meth-ods they have found to be useful forthe problem.s they have solved. Scien-tists in the future will be working on

problems which are not yet solved;prohlems for which present methodshave not worked. We wish edtLicationto prepare scientists to walk new paths.not to retrace the old ones. The historyof the partnership of science andmlathematics has one lesson: thatmathemnatics has contributed to sciencewith a success fantastically beyondwhat could be reasonably expected. Noone understands why. But certainly.by this tinie, scientists should expectthat great contributions will be madeby parts of mathematics which appear,at first glance, to be irrelevant. Thesecontributions, however, can onlv comeabout if there are scientists who knowand appreciate the mathematics.

2) The questions about use of coursecontent are off the point. The impor-tant aspects of mathematics coursesare the habits of thought, the ways ofapproaching problemas, the attitudes.For example, although I now workwith problems of systems analysis andelectromagnetic phenomena, my Ph.D.research and 2 years of teaching experi-ence were in pure abstract algebra. Thethought patterns I developed in abstractalgebra allow me many insights and afreshness of approach not available tomy colleagues. Thus. I "use my alge-bra" every day. even though I rarelyuse any of the "content" of abstractalgebra.

Most of the theoretical work in or-ganic chemistry and zoology, whichwere mentioned by Miller as having"less need for advanced mathematics,"is in fact almost identical in spiritand technique with much of modernalgebra and combinatorial topology. Iam di.smayed that the scientists in thesefields don't seem to know that.

3) For this survey to be meaningful,it needs to be compared with surveysof other groups of scientists, notably(i) scientists who have been successfulin the managerial, political, and edu-cational areas of science, rather thanbeing successful researchers in theirown right; and (ii) scientists who havenot been very productive. The lastgroup would include, for example,

Circle No. 12 on Readers' Service Card *

iIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

m.mLm.tmuamm

al.%,

--qq

Can't leak, won't ooze, doesn'tdribble-because the threaded bossis integrally molded as part of theone-piece body. This precisionmolding technique assures noleaks, ever! Two Teflon* 0-ringsprovide a positive seal for theneedle-type 1/2" spigot. Molded ofconventional polyethylene in 1, 2,5, 61/2 and 13 gallon sizes. Excel-lent for handling acids, collectingand dispensing distilled water andother liquids.

Expect more . . . get morefrom Nalge-the innovator in plasticlabware.

Specify Nalgene Labware fromyour lab supply dealer. Ask forour 1968 Catalog, or write Dept.21191. Nalgene Labware Division,Rochester, New York 14602.

*DuPont registered trademark

RITTER PFAUOLER CORPORATION

Circle No. 79 on Readers' Service Card

most of the science faculty at mostof our colleges and universities; peoplewho put in 5 or 6 years of sweat andtears to produce one mediocre paper.In fact, if NSMRSE could survey onlyone group, I would select this one.These scientists are acutely aware ofthe deficiencies in their own education.Their opinions would be far morevaluable than those of very productivescientists, who would probably havebeen just as successful if their educa-tion had been in classical Greek orcomparative theology.

DONALD R. WEIDMANU.S. Naval Weapons Laboratory,Dahlgren, Virginia 22448

Fulsome?

Greenberg (17 May, p. 744) de-scribes the praise by the Institute forDefense Analyses of its academic under-pinnings as being fulsome, but the quo-tations from IDA's 1965 report- are any-thing but fulsome in praise of itsacademic foundation. One can agreewith Greenberg that a university canperform a public service by preventingitself from blowing up [sic]. It is no lesstrue that IDA is performing a publicservice, toward which academic talenthas made a contribution, according tothe 1965 IDA report. If Greenberg isinterested in public service and the na-tional welfare, perhaps he should attackthe Students for a Democratic Societyfor impairing IDA's academic relation-ships, rather than to attack the exten-sion of the academic world into IDA.

I agree that antimilitary sentimentsexist in the academic world, but mili-tary force also exists in the world andone should not be surprised whenmilitary force overruns and subjugatesa society that permits itself to becomevulnerable. Those with antimilitarysentiments frequently display a fulsomelack of discrimination between militaryforce employed for aggressive purposesand military force employed for de-fensive purposes.

FRANCIS J. KENDRICKNational Institute of Child Healthand Human Development,National Institutes of Health,Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Please clarify the intended mean-ing of "fulsomely" in the sentence"Throughout its history it [IDA] hasfulsomely praised its academic under-

A point ofview on

MAKING EVERYDOLLAR COUNTA top-of-the- Vline liquidscintillation systemis a majorinvestment.Reason enoughto demandthe mostvalue andqualityyou can getforyour research dollars.

If you pay for top counting performance,be sure it's the performance you need.Mark Is Systems let you specify highefficiency, high E2/B, or standard per-formance.

If you pay for top cooling performance,be sure its right for all of your samples.Mark I Systems let you program thecounting temperature to make it preciselycompatible with the composition of yoursamples.

If you pay for top external standardiza-tion performance, be sure the efficiencycurves cover the widest possible range ofquench. Mark I Systems perform channelsratio on a Ba133 external standard todevelop accurate calibration curves overthe full useful range of intermixed H3 andC14 counting efficiencies.

If you pay for top data readout per-formance, be sure the system tells youmore about your samples than any other.Mark I Systems have a "computer-with-a-memory" that does just that.Make all of your liquid scintillation

dollars count. Ask your Nuclear-Chicagosales engineer about Mark I Systems orwrite to us. 8-235

We try to work to a point of view: yours.

NUCLEAR-CHICAGOCORPORATIONA SUBSIDIARY OF G. D. SEARLE a co.349 E. Howard Ave., Des Plaines, III. 60018 U.S.A.Donker Curtiusstraat 7, Amsterdam W.

Circle No. 76 on Readers' Service Card

w

.L

pinnings as vital to its suiccessful oper-ation" (p. 748). My dictionary definesfulsome "(1) Offensive to good taste,esp. as being excessive; gross; (2) dis-gusting; sickening; repulsive." In thecontext of the article a more savoryadverb such as "generously" or even"lavishly" might be appropriate, but inview of the IDA controversy I'm notat all sure which meaning was in-tended.

STEPHEN KIDDResearch and Project Administration,Princeton University, PrincetonNew Jersey 08540

State Science Projects

Sapolsky's analysis ("Science advicefor state and local government," 19Apr., p. 280) shows that the primaryconsideration of state science advisoryunits has been the procurement of fi-nancial aid for scientific research, arelationship similar to that of the Na-tional Science Foundation with the fed-eral government. The question iswhether state governments should fol-low the federal pattern, or initiate dif-ferent methods more adaptable to theneeds of individual states.The limited resources of many states

discourage large investments for re-search which cannot be undertakenwithout heavy financial support. Henceresearch support should not constitutethe primary objective of a state sciencebody. Its function should be twofold:formulation of broad principles of statescience policy, and initiation and plan-ning of scientific programs and projects.It becomes imperative then to conduct(i) inquiries concerning the presentstatus of science and technology in thestate, its effect upon the state economy,industrial capabilities, and natural re-sources available in the state in aspecific field, and (ii) studies of work-able projects which could be beneficialto the state.

Such a program would require a per-manent science advisory committee withan administrator and staff. It would beresponsible for screening proposals andthe administrator would have to inter-pret the scientific plans to state legis-lators in layman's language in thecourse of securing the necessary legis-lative approval-not a simple task.

K. D. MATHUR333 Second Street, NE,Washington, D.C. 20002

26 JULY 1968

*

OPERATIONAL FILTER® Model 1000F $1495

FILTER- AMPLIFIER- OSCILLATOR 0.001 Hz-1.1 KHz* Silicon solid state * High-pass, low-pass (DCcoupled), band-pass and band-reject filter func-tions with digital frequency adjustment * Adjust-able rolloffs (0, 6, 12, 18, 24 db/octave) * TrueButterworth or simple RC response * Variable gain(0, 6, 20, 40 db) * Sine-wave oscillator output* Zero suppression * 2% calibration accuracy * AC(115/230 V) or DC operation.

HI/LO FILTER® Model 1020F $745

HIGH-PASS or LOW-PASS Variable Electronic Filter0.001 Hz-111.1 KHz* Silicon solid state o High-pass or low-pass (DCcoupled) filter functions with digital frequency ad-justment * Rolloff 24 db/octave * True Butter-worth or simple RC response . Variable gain (0,20 db) * 2% calibration accuracy * AC (115/230 V)or DC operation.

ROCKLAND LABORATORIES, INC.ti P.O. BOX 57, TAPPAN, NEW YORK 10983

TELEPHONE (914) 359-1818

Precision instruments for engineering and the physical sciences

Circle No. 29 on Readers' Service Card 317

04

0

Introducing 2 NEW

ELECTRONIC FILTERSBY Rock(land Laboratories. Inc.

Ramr9wprecision 0

Leitz microtomes are manufactured withastonishing precision to give you preciseresults: perfectly uniform tissue sectionstime after timeTake the Leitz Large Minot Rotary Micro.tome, for instance. You set it for sectionsof a certain thickness in microns. You getsections of that precise thickness.Specimen feed is controlled by a precisionmicrometer, continuously variable from 25microns down to one micron. Serially sec-tioned specimens advance rapidly on anautomatic conveyor belt.The Leitz Minot Rotary Microtome is dur-able, rigid and vibration-free. And opera-tion is simple. For full information on thefine Leitz Minot Rotary Microtome and theother precision Leitz microtomes, write for

4.

E. Leitz, Inc., 468 Park Avenue SouthlNew York, N. YV 1 00161

Circle No. 6 on Readers' Service Card

SCIENCE, VOL. 161318

Wouldn't agraphic recorder makeyour job easier?It probably would. Because Hewlett-Packard X-Y and strip-chart re- [corders connect to a wide variety of precision measuring instruments togive you a permanent graphic display of your measurements. Plots andgraphs let you analyze your results more thoroughly, give you permanentrecords for later reference and allow you to make comparison studiesof several measurements.You might be surprised how many measurements can be recorded by asimple connection to your instrument. ==To find out how a graphic recorder can improve the information value ofyour measurements, call your local HP field engineer or write Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, Calif. 94304; Europe: 54 Route des Acacias, Geneva.

HEWLETT& PACKARD

11802GRAPHIC RECORDERS

Circle No. 7 on Readers' Service Card