Executive order of the President of the United States.. THE YEAR JULY 1, 1926, to JUNE 30, 1927 (Prepared by Vernon Kellogg, permanent secretary, with the assistance of the chairmen of divisions) INTRODUCTION The National Research Council, on completing the tenth year of its existence, presents a report of results accomplished and new work set under way during the year. The council has been intrusted during the year with the responsibility of expending considerable sums of money appropriated by various foundations, industrial concerns, and individuals for the support of various special undertakings, in the way of promotion, organization, and carrying out of scientific work and research. Later in this report there is presented a statement in summary form of the actual expenditures during the year, and in the attached treasurer's report a detailed account of assets, income, and disbursements. The council is an organization primarily devoted to the promotion and cooperative coordination of scientific research rather than to the actual conduct of research under its direction, although it has not hesitated to assume the responsibility of carrying on a number of important specific projects of investigation. Its members include, in addition to professional scientific men, a representation of men of affairs and business men interested in industry and engineering and in the fundamental or "pure" science on which applied science depends. The research council is composed of a series of major divisions, one group of seven divisions of science and technology representing, respectively, physics, mathematics, and astronomy; chemistry and chemical technology; anthropology and psychology; geology and geography; biology and agriculture; the medical sciences; and engineering and industrial research; and another group of four divisions of general relations, representing foreign relations, Federal relations, States relations, and educational relations. There is also a special research information service. As subordinate or affiliated lesser groups, each of these divisions comprises a larger or smaller series of committees, each with its special problem or subject of attention. There are certain other committees, administrative and technical, which affiliate directly with the executive board of the council. Its general administrative officers are a chairman, three vice chairmen, 27 permanent secretary, treasurer, and a chairman of each of the various divisions. All of these except the permanent secretary and treasurer are elected annually by the executive board or by the members of the divisions with the approval of the executive board. The research council's lines of work and methods involve the maintenance of a wide contact by it with the scientific organizations and workers of this country and of various foreign countries representing both fundamental science and its applications. The actual membership of the council, appointed by the president of the National Academy of Sciences, is chiefly composed of accredited representatives of about 75 national scientific and technical societies nominated directly by these societies. Constant and stimulating contact with the colleges and universities of the country is maintained, as also with the Government's various scientific bureaus. Relations with foreign scientific workers and organizations are closely maintained through the International Research Council and its affiliated international unions representing different special fields of science. The council is the official representative in this country of the International Research Council, with its various affiliated international scientific unions. RELATIONS TO THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES The National Research Council was established in 1916 at the request of the President of the United States by the National Academy of Sciences under its Congressional charter. By an Executive Order dated May 11, 1918, the academy was requested by the President to perpetuate the research council for the performance of certain dutics specified in the order. In an opinion rendered by the Attorney General of the United States on January 29, 1920, the National Research Council was recognized as an agency of the National Academy of Sciences for the accomplishment of certain particular purposes. The funds derived by gift or otherwise for the use of the research council are held by the academy and are paid out only on general or specific authorization of the academy. The treasurer of the academy is ex officio treasurer of the research council, and all checks made out by the bursar of the research council are signed by an official of the academy and one of the research council. The research council participates on equal terms with the academy in the support and use of the Proceedings of the academy. But the research council has its own officers and membership, the latter appointed by the president of the academy, and determines, under the general provisions established by the academy, its own policies and activities. |