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Thii report was prepared as an account of Government sponsored work. Neither the United States, nor tbe Commission, nor any person acting on behalf of the CommisBlon* A. Makes any warranty or representation, expressed or Implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the InformaUon contained In this report, or that the use of any InformaUon, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report may not infringe privately owned rights, or B. Assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for damages resultli^ from the use of any Information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed In this report. As used in the above, "person acting on behalf of tbe Commission" Includes any employee or contractor of the Commission, or employee of such contractor, to the extent that such employee or contractor of the Commission, or employee of such contractor prepares, disseminates, or provides access to, any information pursuant to his employment or contract with the Commission, or his employment with such contractor.

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A LTHOUGH the radioactivity associated I., with radioisotopes and nuclear power is potentially of great benefit to mankind, it presents certain hazards which are becoming of increasing public health significance. These hazards are formidable but not insurmountable. Feasible methods of radiation protection are available for both the individual working in close contact with radiation and the public living in the environs exposed to radioactive wastes. One of the most important aspects of radiological safety is the detection of radiation.

In a letter (18 Nov., p. 847) de Garilhe protests the distribution of the Fermi award in 1966 to three nuclear scientists with an "average age" of 79. He feels that this is a pity when ''many valuable young scientists await in vain any recognition of their efforts."Since de Garilhe did not define the term "young," I thought I might be permitted to express the opinion of a young and unrecognized scientist who disagrees with him. To wit, I have still over 25 years before reaching the "average age" and I have not received any monetary award. Moreover, like ;de Garilhe, I have been an outspoken opponent of what he calls the European gerontocracy, the system of autocratic rule of scientific institutions and departments by the often elderly chairmen. However, I do not believe that the distribution of the Fermi award in 1966, or the recent Nobel awards, is a symbol of such a system. On the contrary, I suggest that no monetary award which carries great prestige should be given to a scientist before he reaches the age of about 65, unless specific circumstances warrant it. I could document the rather negative influence a large award has had on some young scientists who virtually ceased their scientific efforts and were drawn into social and administrative activities at an age of great potential scientific productivity. I realize that this statement is not backed up by "controls," but it is difficult to deny the effects of the social pressures brought upon the laureates to lecture, wine, and dine all over the world.There is another point. The recipient of such an award should be a symbol of our scientific community. Would it not be more appropriate to wait with the great award until the work as well as the investigator has stood the test of time? How many laureates could confess to the fact that the citation of 148