Food Manufacture

FOOD MANUFACTURE Vol. XX, No. 12 December 1, 1945 Science and the Press Apart from reporting news of general scientific progress, this was done by features and by talks. rT'H E matchmakers trying to arrange the mar- It would be premature to attempt any more than * riage between science and press publicity are a summary of the different angles of view7 ex far from unanimous as to the methods best to be pressed by the experts quoted above. There is em ployed . marked disagreement whence the initiative should On the medical side the suggestion is for that come— whether from the press or the scientist. If profession to “ develop news sense and to co from the latter, the desired combination of apti operate with the well-educated men that Fleet tudes might be realised by a special syllabus in Street can provide.” In short— to learn journalism. scientific training and the creation of a new degree The establishment of a Guild of Science Writers, and therefrom a new profession of scientific jour whose members would hold some scientific quali nalists. As things arc at present the scientist fication, is recommended by Mr. William E. Dick, cannot be blamed for his lack of journalistic e d ito r of D iscovery, and we are informed that this technique. The records of his work must inevitably has gained considerable approval. consist of stark facts, tables of figures, etc., in At a recent meeting of the members of the Lon herently unsuitable for the layman, and the tech don and south-eastern counties section of the Royal nique of writing for him (perhaps it would not be Institute of Chemistry, Dr. 0 . .1. R. Howarth, inappropriate to ask what this technique is) must secretary of the British Association for the Ad be acquired. Doubtless the meetings between the vancement of Science, said that there is increasing scientists and the publicists will enable this point public, interest in science, but neither science nor to be thrashed out. the press is as yet making adequate provision for this. Few journalists knew about science and few The attraction of attention, the holding of in scientists could write for the layman. Unlike the terest, and the leaving of a lasting impression, other opinions quoted above, Dr. Howarth took the attributes of exhibitions in favour of which Mr. view that the initiative should come from the press. Brown spoke, must be qualified by the compara Exhibitions provide the most satisfying form of tively limited number of people attracted by them. publicity media, was the opinion of Mr. O. F. There can be no widely diverse opinion as to the B row n . value of films as a publicity medium. The refer The film as a medium for spreading news of ence to the conference on scientific films published science was outlined by Mr. George A. Jones of the in this issue will give some idea of the activities Scientific Film Association. Scientists may note connected with the use of the instructional film. with a wry smile his remark that “ films could We come finally to the role played by broadcast even be of value to scientists themselves, bringing ing in disseminating scientific knowledge to the home to them the wider part which they played in million. After considerable enquiry we failed to affairs.” His proposal for regular informal meet find one layman who listened to the recent talk on ings of scientists and publicists is one which “■ White Bread or Brown ” between the Radio promises to be realised. Doctor and Dr. Kent-Jones. The B.B.C. is making Stating that the B.B.C. accepted the responsi a valiant attempt in such programmes as “ Your bility of presenting science to the citizen, Mr. Questions Answered,” but until the ground has Vincent Alford, acting assistant director of talks, been better prepared, a good deal of the seed sown claimed the ability of broadcasting to share in will not fructify. the interpretation of the expert to the less expert. The whole problem is a long-term one involving December, 1945 423 more teaching of science in the early stages of The committe has now issued its report and education, together with the increased use of the places the chief blame for Scottish decline on the means discussed at the Institute’s meeting, by policy of fishing near and middle waters while the scientists trained ad hoc. Hull owners built powerful modern vessels which fished far waters. The committee sees no point in the Scottish industry building any great number of new vessels for near or middle waters, which are Instrumentation of British Industry already overfished, but urge that a certain number The speech made by Sir Frank Smith, President of powerful vessels be built to fish the far wpters. of the Institute of Physics, in opening a joint con (This is actually now being done, several large ference of that Institute, the Institute of Chemical modern Diesels being under construction at Aber Engineers, and the Chemical Engineering Group deen). It is suggested that a Government subsidy of the Society of Chemical Industry, stressed the might be required, but owners in Aberdeen have use of instruments in different branches of scien indicated that they can find the finance for this tific and technical activities. The importance of purpose, although loans would be acceptable. such instruments is not sufficiently appreciated The investigation disclosed that SO per cent, of either by industry or the Government. Without Aberdeen trawlers and 82 per cent, of Granton the use of instruments in the first place such re trawlers were over 20 years of age and were either sults of research as radar and the atomic bomb ageing or obsolescent. It is urged that the White could never have been achieved. Fish Commission should be revived with powers to Nearly every big advance in industry is the re license boats, to space landings and sailings, and to sult of knowledge obtained by the use of a new amalgamate or otherwise reduce the large number instrument; the history of the steam engine shows of operating units. The creation of a ratio of that it was the direct result of a study of the foreign landings is also urged, as there is, the com b a ro m eter. mittee believes, a strong case for such a policy. The main objective of the conference (said Sir That ratio should be on a monthly basis to pre Frank) was to urge upon the big industrialists of vent the foreigners from piling up a total over some this country the need for increased instrumenta months and then killing the market by dumping. tion of their industries. The need to pay greater attention to freezing and The Government is urging that we should be cold storage is emphasised. more scientifically-minded, and it has stated with no lack of emphasis that we must increase our export trade. Speaking of the people of the United States in this connexion, Sir Frank said that they A Multi-Purpose Meal believe that their industries are more efficient than As a proposed means of contributing to the feed ours. There is little doubt that they accept changes ing of Europe, Dr. Ilenry Borsook, Professor of more readily than we do. There is enthusiasm for Biochemistry, the Institute of Technology, Pasa things which are new, and there is a readiness to dena, has worked out what he calls a multi-purpose accept standardisation for a period when mass-pro- meal. The list of his objectives is too long to re duetion of a new article commences. We can learn produce here, but palatability, good appearance, much from the United States in instrumentation. conformity with dietary laws of all nations, ease There is a host of articles not hitherto mass- of cooking, good keeping properties, and low cost produced in this country to which this method are among them. It is intended to be a one-dish woidd readily apply. To do this cheaply, and at meal, satisfying for four to six hours. the same time make the articles attractive, big The characteristics of the meal were determined industrial units and the control of manufacturing by the necessity of providing protein of high bio operations by instrumentation are necessary. logical quality at as low a cost as possible. To provide this soya grits were chosen instead of soya beans, because of their higher protein value, their superior flavour, and quicker cooking. In addi Fish Industry Criticised tion to soya grits, the meal contains dehydrated Criticism of the Scottish fishing industry is con potato, cabbage, tomato, onions, leeks, parsley, tained in a report just issued by the Scottish Coun and herbs. cil on Industry, which established a White Fish Calcium is provided by calcium chloride and Committee to investigate the position in this im vitamins A and I) (from fish liver oils), and vita portant food industry. The White Fish Committee min B,, riboflavin, and niacin amide added. was established by Mr. Thomas Johnston, when The lack of fat is the one deficiency of the multi Secretary of State for Scotland, to investigate the purpose meal, but is to be added when cooking. position resulting from a decline of Scottish white 12J oz. (dry weight) of the meal, 10 oz. water, and fish landings at a time when English landings had 1 oz. fat make one meal. increased by 50 p er cent. Dr. Borsook has taken much trouble in making 424 Food Manufacture analyses of the meal, not only taking out figures u n til 1845, when the first blitz or blight of the for its own constituents but those of its combina fu n gu s Phytophthora infestans brought disaster.

Load more