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Science and the second renaissance of Europe
Technology had been financed by ICI and published by OUP; the last of them considered events down to about 1900. Twenty years later it seemedfeasible to take the story on another fifty years, and the new two volumes are worthy successorsto the first five, which have remained authoritative. Inevitably there are some changes; redrawing in line is no more and the degree of illustration is less; the depth of scientific background required for the understanding of some chapters is much greater (there are even a few differential equations!). Perhaps inevitably some contributors have limited themselves to describing successively more sophisticated techniques as solutions to increasingly greater problems, while others have provided wideranging and analytical reviews of the development of new branches of engineering, such as aeronautics and nuclear power, which are outstanding introductions to their subjects. The range of topics is somewhat wider than in the original volumes in that new industries like those providing the housewife with prepared foods and domestic machinery are appropriately considered-obviously consumer-industries become far more important in the twentieth century, employing methods of making clothes or preserving foods very different from traditional household practices: so too do the various aspects of chemical manufacture (here divided into several chapters and sections). Here also will be found discussion of wider issuesrelating to technical change: management, unions, technological education, government, innovation itself. The format of these new volumes is identical with that of the older ones and the presentation, including the photographic illustrations, is on the whole excellent. The standard of verbal exposition is very high indeed; in an age of great technical complexity it seemedto me that these volumes succeed remarkably in treating topics from agriculture to computers without becoming a popular history of invention, in someinstances with great mastery and insight. One can safely predict that thesetwo volumes will remain both authoritative and readable for many years. The
90
Editor of Endeavour has, once again, done a most skilled editorial job. A. Rupert Hall Biographical Memoin of Fellows of the Royal Society Vol. 24. Pp. 604. The Royal Society, f23.50
London. (overseas
1978. f22.50 addresses).
(UK),
Though obituary notices necessarily make sad reading, this volume of biographies of Fellows of the Royal Society who have died recently is of great historical interest. While some, unhappily, died while their work was in full flight, one cannot help remarking -that Fellowship seemsa good recipe for longevity: out of twenty subjects no lessthan three died in their nineties and six in their eighties. As in former years, thesebiographies are full and comprehensive, compiled with great care and devotion-partly on the basis of curricula vitae left by the subjects themselves-by colleaguesfamiliar not only with their scientific work but with them as individuals. The needfor accuracy sometimesleads to delay: thus one of those recorded here is Paul Karrer, who died in 1971. When one notes, however, that the bibliography at the end of his memoir lists a remarkable 1024 publications and 78 patents the delay becomes understandable. This particular memoir is, indeed, not only a comprehensive biography but a valuable commentary on the development of a substantial field of organic chemistry over the period 1910-1970. For many, the most moving notice in this volume will be that of Sir David Martin, who died in 1976 while holding office as Executive Secretary of the Society. To many, indeed, both Fellows and those who in Britain and abroad came in contact with him in the multiplicity of activities he indefatigably undertook in the cause of science, he seemed almost synonymous with the Society; as its chief executive he maintained its continuity over a period of almost thirty years. He was the epitome of a true scientistdevoted to the cause of science and to the august body he served so well and proudly, yet conscious that science is not sufficient in itself but is only a part of human endeavour. Trevor I. Williams
Sclonco and the Socond Rwaioaamca Europa by A. Darwin. Pp. 125. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1$16.001.
19 79. Flexi cover
of
f 8.00
Few will dispute today that there is something rotten in the State of Europe. The plagues have been diagnosedand a great number of remedies been prescribed but none has better sununarised the diseases nor proposed more conciseinterdisciplinary remedial systemsthan Danzin in his slim red booklet of 125 closely typed pages. Danzin concludes that Europe no longer initiates political events, but is overtaken by them; its population is now ageing and shrinking; although of great inherent diversity, Europe is poor in mineral and energy resources; it has lost its former power for technological innovation, and not only in armaments and space; and perhaps most important, Europe has failed to adapt to the cultural changesof its society. Danzin’s ‘Mild Treatment’, in which science in its widest sensewill take the leading part, is the most constructive section and spelt out in considerable detail. Priorities are to profit from the upswing in the life and information sciences; to organise survival by energy alternatives and by improvement in service productivity; and to take the offensive for a better life by reciprocal economic links with the developing countries, by innovation in information technologies, and by the development of freetime activities. Nine subsections of these activities fill more than one page of single-spacetyping. Altogether this remarkable work, born out of the author’s ‘anguish and hope’ is required reading for scientists and all other decisionmakers, whether university dons, cabinet ministers, industrial executives, bureaucrats, or technocrats. It deserves proper type-setting and hard-cover binding, and its secondedition should have a number of minor errors removed, otherwise full marks to a European thinker. The mere fact of its appearance, its penetrating critique and its detailed constructive suggestions,is the best proof that all is not yet rotten in the State of Europe. A. R. Michaelis
90
Editor of Endeavour has, once again, done a most skilled editorial job. A. Rupert Hall Biographical Memoin of Fellows of the Royal Society Vol. 24. Pp. 604. The Royal Society, f23.50
London. (overseas
1978. f22.50 addresses).
(UK),
Though obituary notices necessarily make sad reading, this volume of biographies of Fellows of the Royal Society who have died recently is of great historical interest. While some, unhappily, died while their work was in full flight, one cannot help remarking -that Fellowship seemsa good recipe for longevity: out of twenty subjects no lessthan three died in their nineties and six in their eighties. As in former years, thesebiographies are full and comprehensive, compiled with great care and devotion-partly on the basis of curricula vitae left by the subjects themselves-by colleaguesfamiliar not only with their scientific work but with them as individuals. The needfor accuracy sometimesleads to delay: thus one of those recorded here is Paul Karrer, who died in 1971. When one notes, however, that the bibliography at the end of his memoir lists a remarkable 1024 publications and 78 patents the delay becomes understandable. This particular memoir is, indeed, not only a comprehensive biography but a valuable commentary on the development of a substantial field of organic chemistry over the period 1910-1970. For many, the most moving notice in this volume will be that of Sir David Martin, who died in 1976 while holding office as Executive Secretary of the Society. To many, indeed, both Fellows and those who in Britain and abroad came in contact with him in the multiplicity of activities he indefatigably undertook in the cause of science, he seemed almost synonymous with the Society; as its chief executive he maintained its continuity over a period of almost thirty years. He was the epitome of a true scientistdevoted to the cause of science and to the august body he served so well and proudly, yet conscious that science is not sufficient in itself but is only a part of human endeavour. Trevor I. Williams
Sclonco and the Socond Rwaioaamca Europa by A. Darwin. Pp. 125. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1$16.001.
19 79. Flexi cover
of
f 8.00
Few will dispute today that there is something rotten in the State of Europe. The plagues have been diagnosedand a great number of remedies been prescribed but none has better sununarised the diseases nor proposed more conciseinterdisciplinary remedial systemsthan Danzin in his slim red booklet of 125 closely typed pages. Danzin concludes that Europe no longer initiates political events, but is overtaken by them; its population is now ageing and shrinking; although of great inherent diversity, Europe is poor in mineral and energy resources; it has lost its former power for technological innovation, and not only in armaments and space; and perhaps most important, Europe has failed to adapt to the cultural changesof its society. Danzin’s ‘Mild Treatment’, in which science in its widest sensewill take the leading part, is the most constructive section and spelt out in considerable detail. Priorities are to profit from the upswing in the life and information sciences; to organise survival by energy alternatives and by improvement in service productivity; and to take the offensive for a better life by reciprocal economic links with the developing countries, by innovation in information technologies, and by the development of freetime activities. Nine subsections of these activities fill more than one page of single-spacetyping. Altogether this remarkable work, born out of the author’s ‘anguish and hope’ is required reading for scientists and all other decisionmakers, whether university dons, cabinet ministers, industrial executives, bureaucrats, or technocrats. It deserves proper type-setting and hard-cover binding, and its secondedition should have a number of minor errors removed, otherwise full marks to a European thinker. The mere fact of its appearance, its penetrating critique and its detailed constructive suggestions,is the best proof that all is not yet rotten in the State of Europe. A. R. Michaelis