1945] Radiobiology and Physics 61 meeting of our professional obligations sor Zirkle, a native of Springfield, Illinois, can ever be effected by subjecting great where he was born in 1902, came to the Uni- versity of Chicago as a member of its war numbers of students to stereotyped, research staff in 1942. Educated at the standardized teaching techniques. University of Missouri, he has engaged in We have won the leadership of the research and teaching at Missouri, the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr, and world as a nation but we cannot demand Indiana University. that all the people of the earth talk, dress, Members of the new institute will work in close cooperation with those of the Insti- eat, pray, work or play as do we. They tute of Nuclear Studies already founded at would be no more happy trying to live the University of Chicago. Establishment of the new institute is part of the univer- our lives than would we should we have Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/8/3/61/52805/4437670.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 sity's plan to further fundamental research to live theirs. If we want to hold a place in fields which went underground or were of leadership in world affairs we must neglected during the war. recognize individual differences and give In commiienting on Chancellor Hutchins' announcement, Dr. Reuben G. Gustavson, each group the opportunity to develop, eminent biochemist and vice-president of the along the lines of its own interests, university, said: within the limits of its own abilities and "The studies in nuclear physics have re- vealed many types of radiation, some of with the encouragement of all who may which can be produced by new methods be in position to offer assistance. As a which allow accurate control. These new society of science teachers charged with tools are keys with which to open the secrets of our physical and biological worlds. These a rational development of the thinking tools are dangerous to work with, and man and habits of a group of won-world lead- has to learn how to protect himself while ers we ask no favors other than an equal using them. "The application of these radiations to opportunity with others to make our living tissues, organisms and biological sys- contribution to happy wholesome living tems is in its infancy. We can make new in the ways in which experience and attacks on disease. For example, science now knows some two hundred chemical training indicate the greatest promise compounds which cause cancer. By replac- lies. ing the normal atoms in these compounds E. LAURENCE PALMER with radioactive atomiisof the same elements, these compounds can be followed in the ani- mal body by a tracer method, and the meth- THE INSTITUTE OF RADIO- ods by which they produce cancer may pos- siblv be discovered." BIOLOGY AND The action of drugs also can be followed BIOPHYSICS by this method. Common elements made radioactive by new methods can be incor- As a further outgrowth of its work on porated into hormones, vitamins, and foods the atomic bomb the University of Chicago also, he added. Such problems as just how has established an institute for applying the sugars and fats are burned within the body results of nuclear physics research to such may be solved for the first time by this problemiisas cancer, heredity, and the aging "tracer" method, he said. process, Chancellor Robert M. Hutchins an- Using these miiethodsto probe deeper into nounced recently. The institute, to be known the structure and activities of the living cell, as The Institute of Radiobiology and Bio- scientists miiay also throw new light on physics, also will seek to perfect techniques heredity in plants and animals and the proc- for the protection of workers using radio- esses by which living organismnsgrow old. active materials. This need has been em- phasized by the work on the atomic bomb WALKER PRIZES IN and by the prospect of an inereasing use of such materials in industry. NATURAL HISTORY The institute, to be a part of the division of biological sciences at the university, will Two prizes, founded by the late Dr. Wil- be headed by Professor Raylmond E. Zirkle, liam Johnson Walker, are offered annually a botanist who has specialized in the effect by the BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY of radiations on living organisms. Profes- for the two most acceptable papers written