The Organization of Scientific Research [1948d]

Abstract

It is not without hesitation that I have acceded to the request of the Council of the World Federation of Scientific Workers to present a few observations on the organization of science within the framework of the Perrin-Langevin commemoration. The Federation Council, I am not precisely sure why, seems to feel that I have the custom of treating problems from a theoretical point of view and has asked me, as Mr. [J. G.] Crowther has explained with his well-known humor, to discuss the philosophy of the organization of science. But for someone who has had the privilege, as I have, of hearing Langevin develop his ideas on this subject, who still remembers that warm and persuasive voice, that luminous clarity with which he develops his arguments, it truly seems that there is nothing more to be said on the subject; and anything I could say would be but a pale reflection of what Langevin expressed so well, and more importantly, put into practice so well. Moreover, is it not superfluous to discuss the need for organization of science or the forms it should take in this city where the first university, the first institute for scientific research (this Collège de France where we are meeting), the first Academy of Science, the first scientific journal and the first Polytechnic School have all been founded.

Collège de France, session of November 18th. 1948. in a Symposium on the title subject; taken from the published transcript.