Conant Asks Subsidies For Scientific Studies

In a letter to the New York Times this week, President Conant, as Chairman of the National Defense Research Committee, advocates federal subsidies to scientific research but, at the same time, favors freedom for science.

"There is only one proved method of assisting the advancement of pure science that of picking men of genius, backing them heavily and leaving them to direct themselves," says President Conant. "There is only one proved method of getting results in applied science--picking men of genius, backing them heavily, and keeping their aim on the target chosen."

Private industrial research, President Conant claims, tends to keep by-products of the process used in reaching the "chosen target" to a minimum. Under such methods, there is little time, he indicates, to follow up the side-tracks which unexpectedly develop into such discoveries as penicillin.