PART VIII - Scientific Research and a Research Iustitute

• Author: Chamberlam, Austen
• Pages: 120

PART VIII-SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND A RESEARCH INSTITUTE

As far as the delegation is aware, the first concrete proposals with regard to the foundation of a research institute with Indemmty funds came from Dr Ts'ai Yuan-p'el, Chancellor of the National University of Peking In May 1924 Dr Ts'ai was m England, and while resident there he prepared an interesting memorandum which he submitted to the London Chinese Association for the Promotion of Education The following is a summary of its principal recommendations 1 The principal portion of the fund should be utiised for the establishment of a great and ispiring science insttute, to consist of two departments the one to contain machinery, models and diagrams, illustrating the different stages of development of the physial and chemical sciences, and illustratng the different stages of the evolutionary processes of the industrial arts, the other to contain natural history specimens, showing the genus and species of flora and fauna, leading to anthropology.

2 A portion to be utilsed for subsdising any well-known unvermtaes or techmcal colleges m China, for the express

purpose of starting or extending certain special faculties or departments of sciences and technology, such as biology, textiles, engineerng, chemistry, medicme, agriculture and forestry, &c 8 A portion to be utilised for establishing within some of our national umversities facilities for the study of the sciences, arts and literature of Great Britain Foundation funds will be provided for (1) professorships, (21 purchase of English books on these subjects and works of art, and (8) scholarships for research students 4 A portion to be utilised as a foundation fund for sending teachers and graduates of the universities and technical colleges m China to the umversities and technical colleges in the British Empire 5 A small portion to be utilised for sending scholars from the British Empire to China to study Chinese literature, philosophy, &c 6 A small portion to be utilised for purchasing Chinese objects of art to be exhibited i the museums of Great Britain on condition that the former unworthy ones be removed 7 A portion to be utilised for the exchange of professors between Great Britain and China 'The remission of the Boxer Indemnity Fund by any nation to China is generally appreciated by her people as an act of generous goodwill to their country Her educationalists propose, by the carrying out of the above-mentioned schemes, especially the first one, to have thereby a permanent memorial of the great friendly deed of Great Britain It will be set up in order to create a spirit of reverence for science and industrial arts, becoming, when properly equipped with laboratories and other facilities, a great centre of research and reference 'What I have presented is not merely my personal liew, but also represents a consensus of opinion m China Such opinion, I am confident, will be taken carefully into conslderation by all who are interested m this question ' Shortly after the arrival of the delegation m China, Dr Ts'ai 'then resident in Shanghai) addressed a letter to its members, in which he suggested some slight modificatlons m his original scheme The following is an extract from his letter 'You will probably recall that, m 1924, when I was m London, I had the honour of making certain suggestions with regard to the application of the British China Indemnity My proposals were based upon the two following principles '1 That the whole of the British share of the Indemnity...