The CSIR - the first 40 years

Abstract

This story of the first 40 years of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is presented in three parts. The first includes the events leading up to its establishment in 1945 and discusses the need for such a body in South Africa as seen against the background of world events, notably the impact of two world wars and the emergence in other countries of organizations with specific responsibilities for co-ordinating and developing scientific research. It continues as a chronological narrative of events which unavoidably is studded with names and dates. The second part focuses on the role of the CSIR as a national research council in promoting and supporting university, medical and industrial research, fostering international scientific co-operation and in providing scientific and technical information services. The development, organization and activities of the CSIR research laboratories, institutes and units, operating in this context as a 'contract research organization', are described in the third part.