Refugees Spur Development of Science Here U.S. Chemistry Bureau Aide Holds

Refugees from Nazi persecution have made notable contributions to scientific development in the United States, the American Chemical Society has been informed in a report by Dr. Charles A. Browne of the United States Bureau of Chemistry and Soils.

The report, prepared for submission at the Society s ninety eighth meeting in Boston next month, draws a parallel between the modern flight of refugee scientists to this country and that which occurred in the nineteenth century

“The influence of political disturbances on the exodus of chemists from Europe to the United States,” Dr. Browne writes,” constitutes an important chapter in the history of chemistry in America. The list of European chemists who have been thus expatriated is a long one and the stories of their adventurous careers are filled with romantic interest. The name of Priestley is the most famous one upon the list of chemists who came to America to escape persecution. The disturbances in Germany following the troubles of 1848 brought a large number of German chemists to America whose contributions had much to do with the advancement of chemistry in the United before the Civil War. A modern parallel of this movement is found in the exodus of chemists and other scientists from Germany to the United States as a result of the recent of the recent persecutions by the national socialistic government.”