The Inventor Between Two Worlds: Aggressive innovation links two types of creation that need one another

In his recent Perkin Medal address, Dr. William J. Sparks of Esso Research & Engineering Co. offered some views that ought to provoke discussion where it is needed. He is concerned over the inventor and the encouragement due him. In the address, Dr. Sparks said: "To be complete, total science must include invention, the force that develops a mere potential into a valuable and salable asset. Invention transforms knowledge from dusty archives into human service. In my mind, science should be for something, for someone. And unless it fulfills this job the true work of the scientist has not been realized." Dr. Sparks urged care and support of the patent system as an incentive. There are those who contend that knowledge for its own sake is the only worthy motive, but no less a scientist than Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer has declared that there are two reasons for seeking new ...