^ V ILBTJB A. Lazier, director, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Ala., was awarded the Herty Medal of the Georgia Section of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCI­

ETY on May 4 at the fourteenth annual Herty Day celebration at the Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, Ga.

The medal, named in honor of C. H. Herty, prominent southern chemist, who benefited the South through his develop­ment of newsprint from southern pine, is presented each year at the Georgia Stat-e College for Women to a southern chemist for the outstanding contnbution to southern science. The award this year was unique in that it was presented to a northerner who recently came to the South.

Dr. Lazier was presented the award in recognition of his work in the development of the Southern Research Institute and promotion of scientific research for the benefit of the South. The institute i s engaged in work which involves the de­velopment of the natural resources of the South. Dr. Lazier has also worked in heterogeneous catalysis, high-pressure synthesis, and hydrogénation.

Toe medalist became associated with the Southern Research Institute in 1944, coming from the Du Pont Experimental Laboratories in Wilmington. He received his B.S. at the University of Illinois (1922) and his M.S. (1923) and Ph.D. (1925) at the "university of Wisconsin.

Over 200 from various parts of the South participated in the Herty Day festivities. Among the guests of honor were five former medalists: W. H. Maclntire, University of Tennessee (1936); J. L. Howe, Wash­ington and Lee University (1937); J. S. Guy, Emory University (1940); W. F. Hand, Mississippi State College (1941); and J. H. Yoe, University of Virginia (1945). Other honored guests were T. W. Martin, chairman of the board, Soutdiern Research Institute, who spoke briefly of the medalist, and Charles J. Brockman, cfiairman of the Georgia Section. Speakers on the program in­cluded Guy Wells, president of Georgia

State College for Women, who delivered a welcoming address; and .Mary Stubbs and Anne Logan, students at the col­lege. J. S. Guy, head of the department of chemistry, Emory University, pre­sented the award to Dr. Lazier.

Address of Medalist

Dr. Lazier, in his address1, traced the train of events in the development of organized industrial research from its origin in 1900 to the founding of the Southern Research Institute. Accord­ing to the medalist, the institute was organized as a correction of the South's technological and research deficiencies. He said that in the nine states constituting the southern region there reside only 2.2% of all the industrial research personnel of the nation. B y way of contrast about 90% of the nation's researchers are concen­trated in 16 states located north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. Patent activity aver the period 1933-43 corresponded closely, the actual figures being 2.9% for the South versus 78% for the North and Northeast.

In discussing the present national em­phasis on research today, Dr. Lazier said that there are storm warnings and danger signals ahead. For one tiling, we are running out of properly trained research personnel. Owing to the virtual suspen­sion of college training during the war, we are at the bottom of the barrel. There is no net gain for research in taking men

Relatives of C. H. Herty at the cere­mony were Major C. Herty Hooper, a nephew, and Mrs. W. O. Hooper;

from one organization to staff another. The colleges and universities must meet this situation by strengthening their science curricula, raising scholastic stand­ards, and extending opportunities and facilities for postgraduate study.

Another sign of the times, He added, is the series of campaigns in Washington and elsewhere t o nationalize scientific re­search. Surely research has come of age to receive such recognition, but its very life blood is freedom of thougfrt, direction, and initiative, and pure or fundamental research is sure to wither under any system of rigid state control. Fortunately, the science group has made itself heard for once and there is a good possibility that whatever National Science Foundation legislation may be passed wiil offer some safeguards against a scientific dictatorship.

Last but not least, Dr. Lazier said, we should be concerned that so many of our colleges an^ universities are emphasizing applied research rather than fundamental or pure research. The fund of basic knowledge awaiting practical exploitation is running low, and if we cannot look to the universities for it to be replenished, there will be serious limitations placed on our industrial research opportunities in the future. Some hold that the teaching job requires that students be trained in ap­plied research. The real job is training in research methods, and nothing tries the ingenuity or develops research initiative like the pursuit of pure science.

Or. Lazier with his jarrt.ily: Mrs. Lazier, daughter Barbara, and'Mr. Lazier, father of the medalist

13M C H E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E W S

Herty Medal Awarded to Lazier

A STAFF REPORT

Below, j . S. Guy of Emory University presents the Herty Medal to> Dr. Lazier

Left, Former medalists attending the Herty Day ceremonies w&re W. F. Hand, W. H. Maclntire, / . L. Howe, J. H. Yoe, W. Λ. Lazier, and J.S. Guy