Selection of Fittest

Newspaper readers remarked last week the nearly simultaneous announcements of a "Genius School" at Johns Hopkins University and a "Genius Hunt'' at the Edison laboratories in West Orange, N. J. Mr. Edison, who is in Fort Myer, Fla., and has often been called a genius, did not deny that genius was what he was hunting. But from Johns Hopkins went a protest to the press: "Please note that we have not used the word 'genius' once in our plan. We would appreciate it if you would avoid the use of this word, since it is likely to be misunderstood. "An accurate description of the new Johns Hopkins plan might liken it to the Rhodes foundation for U. S. students, with Johns Hopkins substituted for Oxford University, chemistry specified as the special subject for study, and U. S. Industry in the position of founder. From each of the 48 states, one chemistry student will be chosen annually to go to Johns Hopkins, to study mathematics, physics, English and chemistry (inorganic, organic, physical, analytical) under Professor Neil Elbridge Gordon, recently appointed to the University's new Chair of Chemistry. Students may leave their universities for Johns Hopkins in their sophomore, junior or senior years. Their selection will depend upon state committees of chemical companies and educators, and upon their "health, ability to cooperate, creative ability, intellectual honesty, persistency, faculty of observation, enthusiasm, initiative, reliability, conduct, morality, scholarship." The aim: to produce younger and better chemists. The chair which Chemist Gordon occupies at Johns Hopkins was given by Manhattan Lawyer Francis Patrick Garvan, chairman of the Johns Hopkins Chemical Foundation, onetime (1900-10) Assistant Attorney General of the U. S. He, no chemist, was last week given a medal by the American Chemical Society for being "greatest lay patron of chemistry in the United States" (see p. 48). Chemistry Patron Garvan was also among those who have given a scholarship fund ($1,000 annually) to help the Johns Hopkins plan. The scholarships are to be established in every State. Other contributors so far include: Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. (Ohio), Bill Raskob Memorial Foundation (Delaware),* General Motors Corp. (Michigan), Carbide & Carbon Chemicals Corp. (West Virginia). The Edison "Genius Hunt" consists in finding in each State the high school student who has most distinguished himself in scientific subjects during the present school year. In August, Mr. Edison will give the 48 students an examination, will take the one with the highest mark into his New Jersey laboratories for instruction (sometimes personal). The Governors of 18 states have already notified their Boards of Education to help hunt.

* Memorial of John J. Raskob (du Pont interests, General Motors, Democratic National Committee) in memory of his son, who was killed in a motor accident last summer (TIME, July 16).