| Description | Present at the meeting: Dr C F A Pantin in the Chair; Professor W G Barnard; Professor T A Bennet-Clark; Professor F T Brookes; Mr I W Burkill; Dr C D Darlington; Captain C Diver; Dr A N Drury; Dr W L H Duckworth; Professor F E Fritsch; Mr C T Gimingham; Professor H L Hawkins; Professor A V Hill; Professor J P Hill; Dr E Hindle; Sir Guy Marshall; Mr W C Moore; Dr S A Neave; Professor W H Pearsall; Professor D M S Watson; Professor F G Young
Matters discussed;
1. Apologies for absence from Dr C H Andrews, Sir Edward Bailey, Professor R A Peters and Professor A G Tansley
2. Chairman reported resignation from Committee of Sir Edward Bailey
3. Chairman reported membership of committee increased by one representative each from the Freshwateer Biological Association, the Genetical Society, the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, the Society for Experimental Biology
4. Discussed international projects in biological science and it was ' resolved
4a. that the Council of the Royal Society be asked to take steps to see that the biological side be fully represented and adequately investigated as an integral part of the work of any permanent organisation after the war; that in particular those plans, such as the investigation of North Atlantic drift, which were in being before the war be continued and further, that consideration be given to the desirability of recommending a programme of oceanographic investigation in the Mediterranean.
4b. It was agreed tht the notice of the Royal Society should be drawn to the importance of co-ordinating work on such international projects as pest control etc.
4c. That it be a recommendation to the Council of the Royal Society that steps be taken to find out whether a coastal survey of fauna and flora on an international basis should be prosecuted. '
5. Discussed revival of certain international committees, and 'resolved -
5a. that it be a recommendation to Council that the work of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature should receive adequate financial support.
5b. Agreed Mr Hemming and Dr Sprague be invited to attend the next meeting of the National Committee for Biology for further discussion of the International Commissions on Nomenclature in Zoology and Biology.
6. Empire Scientific Conference to be held in London in 1946
6a. Agreed that the committee would welcome the conference and that a meeting of the committee should be held in the autumn prior to the meeting of Dominions representatives who would then be concerned with the drafting of the programme.
6b. Resolved - that it be a recommendation to Council that the importance of adequate subvention of reputable international conferences be stressed '
7. Considered the rehabilitation of biological science in liberated Europe and resolved ' that the Secretary and Chairman be empowered to get information on the present position of biological collections of books, instruments and materials, such information to be laid before the Council of the Royal Society to consider what action might be taken for their recovery. ' Discussion deferred on visits, travel grants and fellowships
8. 'Resolved - that it be a recommendation to the Council that the Royal Society take steps to find out through the International Red Cross what enemy nationals among biologists have been interned in concentration camps, or have in other ways given proof of their antagonism to the Nazi aims.
Agreed constituent societies of the National Committee would welcome a lead from the Royal Society as to the treatment of scientists of enemy origin.
The committe recorded its general feeling as being against any representation of Germany and Japan at any international conference at any rate for the present.
9. A memorandum by Dr E D Morrill and Dr F Verdoorn on the exchange of information and an international biological journal considered, and agreed that Mr Burkill be asked to obtain further information from Dr Morrill on the position of the International Union and the proposed publication, and that the matter be brought forward at a later meeting of the committee.
10. Considered the proposal to split the National Committee for Biology according to function. Agreed that suggestions should be sent to the chairman and that a more definite proposal be discussed at a later meeting. '
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