Notes and records of the Royal Society of London

• Published in: Notes and records of the Royal Society of London 1946-10, Vol.4 (2), p.133-145
• Main Author: Hill, Archibald Vivian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0035-9149; 1743-0178
• DOI: 10.1098/rsnr.1946.0023

A Conference of Fellows was held in the rooms of the Royal Society on 10 May 1945 to discuss certain questions arising from the Report on the Needs of Research in Fundamental Science, particularly in relation to ‘ rare subjects ’ in the universities. As a result of this meeting, a memorandum was drawn up by Professor A. V. Hill, then Biological Secretary. This memorandum, slightly abridged, was in the following terms: Under existing conditions there are various subjects of study for which little or no provision is made in any of the universities of the United Kingdom. There are sub/branches of subjects the study of which might be held to fall within the duties of some existing depart' ment but which, in fact, have been almost neglected. O n the other hand, there are subjects for which too widespread provision has been made in the past or for which too great a dispersion of effort has proved unhealthy. Certain subjects do not need to be studied at a higher level in more than a few places. A t Sir Charles Darwin’s suggestion to the Secretaries, a Conference was called at the Royal Society on 10 May to consider the general problem. Seventeen Fellows were present. A t this Conference it was decided to ask the Council of the Royal Society to invite the co-operation of the Sectional Committees, and of the newly formed Standing Committee on Agricultural Science, to explore it further.