Fruitful Congress

Fortunately, the urgent call for organisation and political action by scientists has not been in vain. An example of what is being done was the recent conference on "Science and the Welfare of Mankind" organised in London by the Association of Scientific Workers. This body, previously representing a left-wing minority group, has now some 15,000 members and is a Trade Union well able to speak for the scientific profession. Many forthright statements, showing full appreciation of the situation, were made by prominent scientists. It was pointed out that in future scientists must investigate the social consequences of their work before, not after, they give it to the world, and must plan their work so that the consequences are good. They must evolve a new code of ethics to protect their knowledge from misuse and must learn to work together, both in actual research and for its application to the common good.

At the same time, the whole people must assert their wish to have science used for their own benefit. It is the job of scientists to win the confidence of the average worker, who still fears deep down in his heart that he will suffer because of the progress they will enable him to make.

This and similar gatherings in other parts of the world suggest that perhaps the majority of scientists have at last realised that only by joint action can they effectively prevent the stifling of research and that many now understand that science will only be able to apply itself fully to the solution of human problems in the new society which is arising out of the chaos of declining capitalism.

—J.M.Z.