The British Association

Abstract

IT is important not to confuse two distinct aims: (1) to make the proceedings less specialised, and (2) to make them more popular. I believe that in practice these two aims are often found even to be opposed. The committee of Section A has often arranged joint discussions with other Sections—a typical way of broadening our proceedings—but not in the least with the idea of attracting the public. I think the idea was that, by bringing together a number of experts with different points of view, a discussion would result which would advance science, but would necessarily be rather beyond the comprehension of most of us.