Beckwith Urges Scientists To Seek Political Change

"Science in the hands of the people who rule this country and who run our industries is being used to exploit and oppress people all over the world," Dr. Jonathan R. Beckwith '57, head of the team which isolated a single gene last fall, told the American Society for Microbiology in Boston last night.

"Scientists, by playing the passive role assigned to them in society, are just as much accomplices as those scientists who directly do research which benefits the warmakers." added Beckwith, who is professor of Bacteriology and Immunology at the Medical School.

"Instead, scientists, recognizing their responsibility, must ally with other workers, the poor people, and other oppressed groups to work together for meaningful political change," Beckwith said.

Beckwith, who was accepting an award from the Eli Lilly Drug Co. for his work in microbial genetics, told the audience of 800 at the Sheraton Hotel that he would donate the $1000 award to the Black Panther Party.

"Unfortunately in this society, those who make the decisions about awards equate serving 'society' with serving the interests of that small number ofpeople who run our government and our industries," Beckwith said. "In a just society, those who receive the awards should be those who are contributing in a meaningful way to the welfare of all people."

Beckwith charged that drug companies use token research to extend their patent rights over the manufacture of particular drugs, and that they "plow back their profits into a campaign of public relations" to monopolize the drug market.