Problems and Possibilities in Reconversion

I want to direct my comments to the scientists and engineers of today, but particularly of tomorrow, because I feel they have a special responsibility to mankind and the universe in which they find themselves, which comes from two special factors of their identity. One is that presumably we as technologists are trained in the pursuit of truth. You know that's a very profound and challenging kind of assignment, and we don't always do it to the best of our ability, and we don't always observe it with the greatest of our loyalty. Second, we have a responsibility of leadership in the commitment of resources in our companies and in our communities because the technologist today is in a unique position; he is able to see into the future much more accurately than in any other discipline. We are a uniquely future-oriented discipline. And so we have these two responsibilities — to pursue truth and to lead in the commitment of resources in a direction that will benefit mankind and leave the universe better off than the way we found it.