Description | Present at the meeting: Professor F E Fritsch in the chair; Professor W Brown; Dr O M B Bulman; Dr C Forster-Cooper; Professor H Munro Fox; Professor J B S Haldane; Professor A V Hill; Professor W H Pearsall; Professor R A Peters; Dr E J Salisbury
' The committee discussed with representatives of the Agricultural Research Council, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Development Commission and the Medical Research Council the existing organization for providing funds for fundamental research in biology, especially outside the universities. Various directions in which the organization could be modified were considered. '
1. Confirmed minutes of meeting held on 19 April 1944
2. ' Resolved - that the following recommendations be made; - 2a that the need for nature reserves is an essential requisite for the study of flora and fauna under field conditions 2b that it is essential to bridge the wide gaps that exists in the organization for financing fundamental research in biology, especially outside the universities 2c that some machinery be established to consider the requirements for fundamental research in biology, in the country as a whole, especially for research of a long-term character. 2d that the existing liaison with the government departments administering grants in aid of biological research be maintained. 2e that , in order to ensure adequate support for fundamental research in which the departments referred to in (2d) above have no direct interest, a greatly increased grant should be made available to the Government Grants Committee of the Royal Society; and that this grant be administered independently or in conjunction with other granting bodies. 2f that arrnagements be created for the occasional interchange of staff between universities and institutes of applied biology as well as museums and botanic gardens. (In laying stress on the importance of sabbatical years for the members of university staffs, it was pointed out that part of such sabbatical leave might be spent at institutes of applied biology or museums.)
3. Agreed next meeting of the committee on Wednesday 24 May 1944 at 11.00 am. |