Abstract

The Waste of Scientists

During the past few months there has been an increasing demand for improvement in American science. It was told that the Russians are training many more scientists than the Americans are and that, perhaps, their young scientists receive better instruction than Americans. In a world in which national supremacy and national survival depend to such a large extent on scientific superiority, this is indeed a serious matter. Spokesmen for science and influential legislators are demanding that the government spend more money in support of science, an all-out effort is being made to attract-our intelligent young men and women into scientific careers. But though the United States may be superior in various sciences concerned more with human betterment than with human destruction, there is certainly room for improvement. And money alone will not solve the problems involved. It is true that two billion dollars produced the atom bomb. But two billions, or even ten billions, might not produce a cure for cancer, especially if the money were not wisely spent.