NO.4871 , 1963 NATURE 953

was educated at the Imperial College of Science and decide before the end of the year whether a prototype Technology, where he obtained the degree of B.Sc.(Eng.) nuclear ship would be built. In these circumstances, the in 1953 and five years later was awarded the degree of Government had decided that the time had come to have Ph.D. Following graduation, Dr. Clarricoats was em­ discussions with the shipping and shipbuilding industries ployed by the General Electric Company at Stanmore about the arrangements for such a ship. It was expected until 1958, when he was appointed lecturer in the Depart­ that it would be possible to decide before the end of the ment of Light Electrical Engineering in the Queen's year which reactor system should be installed in a proto­ University of Belfast. There he created a microwave type nuclear ship, if one is built. The Civil Lord of the research group and arranged contracts with the Depart­ Admiralty, Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing, added that the nent of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Admiralty had no present plans for building a nuclear­ Ministry of Aviation, which provided apparatus and powered surface vessel, but was keeping in close touch grants. In 1962, he was appointed lecturer in the with the latest developments and applying the knowle?-ge Department of Electrical Engineering at the University gained from them to studies of possible future warshIps, of Sheffield. He was awarded two premiums by the Institution of Electrical Engineers for his work on Teaching Machines and Programme Learning microwave ferrites. He has been a consultant with IN an adjournment debate in the House of Commons Messrs. Short Bros. and Harland since March 1961. He on February 12, Mr. R. Gresham Cooke and Mr. G. M. was awarded a senior visiting fellowship of the Organiz­ Thomson raised the question of teaching machines and ation for European Co-operation and Development by the urged the support of further research into programmed Swedish Natural Science Research Council in December learning and the use of such machines. In replying for 1962. the Government, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Mr. C. Chataway, welcomed the Director of Dounreay: Mr. R. R. Matthews debate and said that this development was being very carefully studied. Although almost all the research on MR. Roy R. MATTHEWS, formerly deputy director, programmed learning was being carried out in the United reactor design in the Reactor Group of the United King­ States, there was in Great Britain a shortage of thoroughly dom Atomic Energy Authority, has been appointed to validated programmes. The Government particularly succeed Dr. R. Hurst as director of the Dounreay Experi­ welcomed the work being undertaken by the Association mental Reactor Establishment. Dr. Hurst is leaving the for Programmed Learning- a professional body mainly Authority to become director of research of the British of practising teachers. Research was still proceeding i:r:to Ship Research Association. Mr. Matthews was educated the efficiency of the lineal' type of programmed learnmg at Lindisfarne College, Westcliff-on-Sea. A scholar of and of the multiple choice variety, and so far the results Queen's College, Cambridge (1940-42), he graduated with were rather inconclusive. Mr. Chataway thought that honours in mechanical sciences. In 1942 he joined the Mr. Cooke had overestimated the amount of research so Royal Navy and served on H.M.S. Indefatigable in the far carried out. The first significant research in Great Atlantic and the Pacific until 1946 as a temporary Britain was in the Psychology Departments of the lieutenant (E.), R.N. In 1947, after a short period with Universities of Aberdeen and Sheffield, supported by E. S. and A. Robinson, Ltd., Bristol, he joined the grants from the Department of Scientific and Industrial London Office of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. Ltd. In 1948 Research, and was directed mainly to the industrial appli­ he went to Abadan, Iran, for three years, holding various cation of programmed learning. Howevor, within the posts in the maintenance and development engineering past few months research into educational aspects of the departments. Returning to England in 1951, he joined subject had commenced in the Department of Education Monsanto Chemicals design department as a senior project at the University of Sheffield. Work had also commenced engineer. He joined the Atomic Energy Authority in at Sheffield in , on methods of using pro­ 1955 as assistant chief engineer in the Fast Reactor grammed learning in secondary school mathematics up to Design Office, becoming deputy chief engineer in 1956 the Ordinary Levol of the General Certificate of Education, and chief engineer in 1957. In 1961 he was appointed with the view ultimately of Advanced Level. This was deputy director of the Reactor Design Branch. His made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Education qualifications include Associate Membership of the of £12,000 over three years. The Ministry had also offered Institutions of Mechanical, Chemical and Electrical a grant of £1,000 a year for three years to support research Engineers. under the Department of Education, University of Marine Nucfear PropulSion Leicester, with simple linear machines and programmes suitable for use by primary school children, especially in IN a speech in t,he House of Commons on the Brussels arithmetic and reading. Replies to an inquiry of all local negotiations on the European Economic Community on education authorities, colleges of advanced technology February 11, the Prime Minister said that Britain had and institutes of education in October indicated that always been anxious not merely to build a nuclear engine only 20 authorities out of 146 had anything positive to which could propel a merchant ship but to get a nuclear report. Three colleges of advanced technology and the reactor which is economically attractive. This point was College of Aeronautics at Cranfield were experimenting now near at hand and the Minister of Transport would with machines, and in several institutes of education very soon be discussing with all those concerned the programmed learning was beginning to play a part in arrangements for the construction, ownership and oper­ te3cher training. ation of such a vessel. In a written answer on February 13, Mr. E. Marples stated that those talks had now begun, River Authorities and Land of 'Special Interest' but it was too soon to say what type and size of vessel AT the report stage of the Water Resources Bill in the would be selected if the Government decided that one House of Lords on February 14, the Government accepted should be built, nor was it possible at this stage to say an amendment moved by Lord Hurcomb which inserted how the order would be placed. If suitable financial and a new clause. Under this clause the Nature Conservancy, other arrangements could be agreed with industry, Mr. when of the opinion that any area of land not managed Marples hoped that a firm decision whether a ship should as a nature reserve but which is of 'special interest', and be built would be taken before the end of the year. which may at any time be affected by schemes, activities In a further written answer (in the House of or operations of a river authority, has the duty of notifying Commons) on February 15, the Minister of Transport the river authority that the land is of special interest by stated that since December 20 research had progressed to reason of its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical a point where it became clear that it would be possible to features, etc. It is already the duty of the Nature Con-

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