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The Spike or Victoria College Review October 1929

Science Society

Science Society.

The Science Society opened its third year of activity with a lecture held in the Physics Lecture Room on April 26th, when Dr. E. Marsden, Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, presented a very interesting paper on "Science in America." During the course of his lecture, Dr. Marsden covered a considerable amount of ground, and, as was to be expected, owing to the limited amount of time at his disposal, many interesting questions could only be lightly touched on. It was surprising to hear how much was spent on research in America, the annual expenditure in many institutions running into millions. Dr. Marsden also emphasised the fact that in America a considerable amount of time was devoted to research of a purely fundamental character. Commercial firms no longer expected the technical experts in their employ to restrict themselves to branches of research likely to lead to results of immediate commercial value. Large concerns, such as the General Electric Company, carried on research very similar in nature to the most academic work done at a University. It is at last being realised by the business man that to attempt to make a distinction between pure and applied science is fallacious. After a short discussion, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer, and the meeting adjourned to the Biology Laboratory for the supper, which had been arranged by the lady members of the committee.

The annual Social was held on June 8th in the College Gymnasium. There was a large attendance, and after the usual singing introduction in the hall, the company proceeded upstairs, where the rest of the evening was spent in dancing, two novelty dances, for which prizes were given, being included during the course of the evening. Altogether a very enjoyable evening was spent by all those present.

On the morning of the 27th June a visit was paid by a large party of students to the Bryant and May Match Factory, when the manager of the factory was kind enough to provide us with a guide, who described the whole process of match-making, from the raw material to the finished product.

On Friday, June 28th, Mr. E. K. Lomas, M.A., M.Sc., F.R.G.S., gave us an interesting paper on "The Importance of Manchuria in the Present Problems of the East."

In conjunction with the Basketball Club, we held our Annual Dance on Saturday, the 13th July, and it was undoubtedly one of the best dances held at the College this year.

Two more lectures were held this year—one by Dr. Marwick, on "Evolution," which is a much-discussed subject at present, and attracted a large audience. The second was given by Professor G. W. von Zedlitz, on the "Religion of Science." The Professor treated the subject in his usual humorous manner. He considers that the science student is probably the only religious person in the modern State, basing his contention on the fact that the science student, in the past at any rate, has had to be content with the joy in his work as the major part of the reward of his labours. He said he had no doubt that we all wished to be poor, and congratulated us on the career we had chosen, if we wished to be poor in the surest and quickest possible way. Judging at the surprise and amusement expressed by the audience at these remarks, it was obvious that the speaker had somehow or other misjudged the modern science student.

As last year, there was also a football match (?) among the Science students, and the Lunch-Time Club has been in full swing.