Britain: An official handbook > 1959

VII. PROMOTION OF THE
SCIENCES AND THE ARTS
THE PROMOTION OF THE SCIENCES
While the promotion of the sciences in the United Kingdom is largely the
concern of those learned societies and institutions devoted specifically to this end,
only a small part of the research which is vital to science is carried out directly by
them. Most of the ‘pure’ or ‘fundamental’ research is conducted in the universities,
which also play an essential part in promoting the sciences by maintaining a steady
supply of trained scientists. In practice, it has become impossible to distinguish
clearly between science and its extensive applications in everyday life, with the
result that scientific research in the widest sense has become the concern also of
industry and of various Departments of Government.
In recent years it has become an acknowledged responsibility of the Government
not only to undertake research directly but also to keep under review the facilities
for the training of scientists, to encourage fundamental research, to finance certain
research projects, and to ensure that adequate research is directed to matters of
national interest. As a result a system of collaboration has developed between the
universities, industry, the learned societies and the Government which is of great
value to the community and leaves the greatest possible measure of freedom to
individual scientists.
Though scientific research is carried out mainly under three different kinds of
administration—university, industry and Government—there is strong liaison and
close co-operation between them, while the learned societies remain free to play a
most important part in the discussion and publication of the results of research.
Important work is also undertaken by independent organisations for example,
in medical research, by the British Empire Cancer Campaign, the Imperial Cancer
Research Fund, the Nuffield Foundation, the Lister Institute of Preventive Medi¬
cine, the Wellcome Foundation and Trust, and by some large pharmaceutical firms.
The Nuffield Foundation, which was established by Lord Nuffield in 1943, has a
wider scope. Its aims are: the advancement of health and the prevention and relief
of sickness; the advancement of social well-being; the care and comfort of the aged
poor; the advancement of education; and such other charitable purposes as shall
be declared by Lord Nuffield in his lifetime and by the trustees after his death.
Prominent among the Foundation’s many activities are the promotion of medical,
scientific and social research and the development of medical services and. of
technical and commercial education. Its resources consist of a fund of £10 million
provided by Lord Nuffield and of gifts and bequests from other persons.
THE LEARNED SOCIETIES
The learned societies have had a profound and lasting influence upon the develop¬
ment and organisation of science in Britain; not only have they provided the back¬
ground for the continuity of research from the seventeenth century onwards, but
they have been a meeting ground where all scientists can foregather for the exchange
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