大象传媒

This year's Reith Lecturer is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh Sir Edward Appleton. From 1939 to 1949 he was Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and in 1947 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the knowledge of the ionosphere, which led to the development of radar. In his Reith series entitled 'Science and the Nation', he considers the importance of science.

In his fourth lecture entitled 'Government and Science', Professor Appleton considers the uses of applied science. He explores the British government's support of applied sciences for its own needs, and for the general benefit of industry. He analyses how this dependency influences government policy.