Letters to the Editor

L etters to the Editor Encouraging visits to physics institutions Sir, The European Physical Society is dedicated to ‘promote the advance ment of physics, in Europe and in neghbouring countries’. This is accom plished chiefly by bringing physicists of different countries together by suit able means. However, a map of Europe and its neighbouring countries demonstrates that some physicists are closer together than others a priori. EPS might well consider whether it would be appropriate for the Society to use its good services to improve the situation. The establishment of a large scale effort comparable to the American International Committee on Education in Physics is a larger question which the Society might wish to discuss. However, a simple system might offer considerable assistance. The Secreta riat of the Society could, at nominal cost, maintain a file of institutions which would welcome visitors. Since a person travelling to a conference can often visit an extra city en route at no extra cost, the principal obstical to such visits is discovering who might be interested in seeing him and where to write in order to make arrange ments. A system with a central file would benefit travellers going either to or from one of the centres of physics activity. A visitor from the fringe areas of Europe to one of the centres of phy sics activity, would, by use of such a file, be able to make contacts with several laboratories on his trip and thus make the trip that much more valuable. A traveller from one of the centres of physics activity passing near an institution in a fringe area, where visitors are extremely rare and contacts few, would have the oppor tunity to learn first hand of the efforts and problems of ‘that institution and by his very presence provide a signi ficant stimulus. The success of such a programme depends on the desire of members of EPS to promote physics as a whole in addition to their special interest, but, without such a desire on the part of its members, EPS can hardly flourish. I would, therefore, hope that EPS can establish a suitable file of reference information about interested institu tions and encourage visits to institu 2 tions in different countries particu larly those involving persons from and institutions in the ‘neighbouring countries' mentioned in the EPS constitution. I would appreciate hearing comments from EPS on the feasibility of such a programme. The Physics Institute of Hacettepe University, for one, would like to ex press its interest in such a programme. When we make our travel plans, we often do not know where else we could profitably visit. On the other hand, we would welcome physicists who, on a business trip or a vacation, might be passing reasonably close to Ankara. It would be desirable to write us ahead of time so that details of the visit can be discussed and suitable plans made. There are three major Universities in Ankara as well as several government research institu tions with physics sections, so that most branches of physics are repre sented in the neighbourhood. R.L. Morehouse, Hacettepe University, Department of Physics, 45 Ankara, Turkey Code of ethical practice for scientists Sir, I read with interest the President’s address to the Second European Phy sical Society General Conference. In particular, I was heartened to see Pro fessor Casimir’s recommendation that no scientist in an acadamic position should, of his own free will, be active in or advise on military technology. I was fortunate some years ago in finding a communally-owned company whose constitution contains a com mitment not to become involved in the supply of arms. Therefore, like the physicist in an academic position, following this recommendation pre sents no great difficulty. However, I feel this type of thinking needs to go further. It is surely time to prevent or at least put more obs tacles in the way of the inexorable ‘progress’ towards whatever is scienti fically and technically possible, re gardless of the consequences. Society is not yet organised in a way in which it is able to prevent the progress of undesirable developments, even though they may include more effec tive methods for individual or large scale unselective annihilation, which are widely recognised as being unde sirable. During and since the last World War, scientists have made unsuccess ful attempts to exert some control over the final stages of such develop ments. The reasons for their lack of success are complex, but so called ‘national interests’ have invariably been a major obstacle. An internationally agreed code of ethical practice for scientists could do much to reduce this particular obstacle. It would also encourage a healthy sense of responsibility and provide a much needed ‘touchstone’ for tomorrows scientists. Should not such a code find its origins in the European Physical So ciety, an international body which represents those countries which have always been at the forefront of civi lised and scientific thought? J.A. Raymond, Scott Bader, Wollaston, UK Europhysics Style Manual Sir, In the May 1972 issue of Europhy sics News, you recommend the Euro physics Style Manual with Appendices A, B and C. May I draw your attention to a source of misunderstandings in the recommendation of the Europhysics Style Manual? There is mentioned, as Appendix A, the IUPAP/SUN docu ment U.I.P. 11; my address is given for requests for this document. Then follows a description of Appendices B and C, without any indication where these documents can be obtained. So I am getting requests for the whole Europhysics Style Manual. I should be very grateful, if you would insert a correction into the next issue of Euro physics News giving the addresses where the different parts can be obtained. U. Stille, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, D- 33 Braunschweig, Fed. Rep. of Germany Editor’s Note : Only the IUPAP/SUN U.I.P. 11 (Symbols, Units and Nomen clature) is obtainable from U. Stille. The Europhysics Style Manual is available from EPS (P.O.B. 39, CH 1212 Petit-Lancy 2, Switzerland) for Sw. Fr. 10.—. The needs of developing countries Sir, We would like to comment on the letter from F. Janouch appearing in the May issue of Europhysics News. First of all, the title ‘Unemployed phy- and the ‘reply’ by Meadows that was also included in the same issue of Futures. The ‘self-delusions arising from the MIT computer model building’ referred to by your reviewer are of a far lower significance, if at all, than those accompanying the current practices of politicians, economists and socio logists in countries throughout the world — whatever their ideological bias and orientation. In the absence of knowledge, in formation and, at least, broadly vali dated ‘models’ of a dynamic — yet resource-limited — world, the only prospect is increase in entropy, dis order and instability in all societies. Taking thought for the morrow’ is still materialistic, as well as moral and Malthus w (...truncated)