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Vol. 5, Part 6 APRIL, 1923 BULLETIN OF THE Number 31 NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL THE ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMIT- TEE ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE OF CALIFORNIA Prepared from the Final Report of the Committee BY T. H. GOODSPEED Associate Professor of Botany, Invert of Cal~forma, and Secretary, Committee on Scientific Research, State Council of Defense of Cal~fornwb CONTENTS Prefatory note.... Members . . ~ . ~ . e ~ ~ ~ e ~ ~ e Ie HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION. . . e ~ II. ACTIVI} IS OF SPECIE COMMITTEES. . . 1. Astronomical and mathematical investigations. 2. Botanical investigations............ 3. Chemical research e 4. Economics ......................... 5. Engineering and inventions.......... 6. Entomological investigations........... 7. Geological and mineral resources..... 8. Medical research.................... 9. Occupational selection.................. 10. Petroleum commission 11. Physical investigations 12. Psychological investigations........ - 13. Zoological investigations ~ GO:;TI:;UATION OF C~FORNTA COMMITTEE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH III. IV. PUBLICATIONS ~ Page 1 ~0 14 15 16 18 22 28 29 32 33 34 41 g2 In the experience of the war years many instances can be pointed out of swift and successful accomplishment in scientific work through united and determined action on the part of scientific men. One PREFATORY NOTE
2 CALIFORNIA COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARGE of the most successful of these enterprises in the mobilization of science was that of the Committee on Scientific Research of the Cali- fornia State Council of Defense. This Committee was founded upon affiliations between scientific men of the Pacific Coast which had been developing for several years immediately preceding the war. The purpose of these affiliations had been the encouragement of research as the basis of scientific activity. When it became neces- sary to undertake special investigations during the war emergency, it was natural to take advantage of the relationships already estab- lished. In this way it was possible for the California State (council of Defense to appoint a Committee on Scientific Research which could be supported by the well-integrated co-operation of the whole scien- tific community in California. This Committee on Scientific Research rendered definite contribu- tions in meeting the necessities of the emergency. Its work supplied some of the gaps in the information required by both the federal and state governments by expediting scientific work already in progress and by uncovering resources of potential natural wealth which could hardly hate been done except through the coordinating action of a body such as this. Bearing in mind the present attainments of scientific agencies within the state, and seeing on the horizon, as it were, additional important information almost within reach, this Committee was able, during the war years, to bring the scientific work of California to yield contributions in directions where addi- tional knowledge would be of the greatest use to the government. The work of this Committee stands out conspicuously among the contributions of scientific men of the country during the war. The career of this Committee was so unique as to warrant special study of the conditions on which it was founded and of the ways in which its work was carried on. Its activities are suggestive of what may be done in normal times for the steady progress of science through concerted action on the part of scientific men. The Division of States Relations of the National Research Council wishes to publish in abbreviated form the final report of this Com- mittee so that its work may be the more widely known and so that whatever suggestions can be derived from this work looking toward the increased scientific productivity of the nation as a whole may be made accessible to the scientific men of the country and to those who carry on administrative duties in our state and federal systems. The report is published with the approval of His Excellency, Governor Stephens of California. HENRY S. GRAVES, G~irma,t, Div~ott of States Relat~o~.