The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-10-03

Shorin in a paper to be printed by
the Journal of the American Society
of Motion Picture Engineers.
Shorin denied vehepently that
there was any restriction on scien-
tific research in the Soviet Union, a
charge which is often made by I'M
friendly professionals and intellec-
tuals.
No Gags on Research
There is no restriction on re-
search" he declared. Russia today
has 1872 scientific institutions devoted
solely to research and application.
This does not include industrial lab
oratories. Naturally development of
technology is our chief problem now,
but no field of scientific research
which anyone could name is being
neglected in Russia today"
Professor Shorin was asked why
there seems to be special emphasis
on almost all branches of biological
research in the Soviet Union today.
That" he replied with a gentle
smile, lis because we believe that
the man is the cornerstone of every
thing. We are building a new society
to create new people-people who
will be new because they will be hap
pier and healthier, because they will
have stronger bodies and greater
minds. To do this, it is necessary to
understand the human organism. /"
Professor Shorin pointed out that
there is intense interest not merely
in biology, but in medical research
and in public health. The medical re-
search institute in Leningrad, he
says, was founded with a State en-
dowment of 100000 roubles.
Incentives in the U. S. S r..
Russian science is also vitality in
terested in astronomy, but not as an
instrument in aimless discussion as
to whether the universe is winding
up" or running down The Russian
interest in astronomy, attested by a
highly developed astronomical insti-
tute under the direction of Profess
sor Numeroff, is based solely on the
relation of astronomy to physics and
geology, says Shorin.
Another question which evoked a
smiling reply from the Soviet sayant
was this: What incentive has the
scientist in Russia for individual eff
fort and achievement"
The Five Year Plan,'' was Shorin's
simple reply. Further than that, we
have the same incentive as has any
free man for working freely, the love
of his work. Speaking for myself
and my friends, I can say that those
Of us who were scientists before the
revolution could not stop doing
scientific work merely because there
was a revolution any more than we
could stop breathing for the same
reason. And if one is to consider the
eager throngs of young men and wo-
men who are flocking to the scienti-
f1c schools to become chemists, en-
gineers, metallurgists, ETC., one must
conclude that there will be no lack
OF scientific workers among the new
generation"
Expert in Radio, Movies
Professor Shorin's line of research
IN recent years has led him into the
fields Of radio, sound pictures and
other types of sound reproduction
and communication. For the benefit
OF movie trade paper representatives,
he discussed technical movie prob
lens and revealed among other
things that there are now four large
factories in Russia manufacturing
movie equipment and that in the
near future Russia will be able to
manufacture all the movie film it re-
quires for its own purposes. The de-
velopment of the motion picture in
dustry in Russia has been retarded
up till now by the lack of raw film.
Professor Shorin gave some indica-
ton OF the growth of the cinema
since the revolution by pointing out
that in 1915 only 10000, 900 persons
attended movie showings whereas in
1882 the total. audience for the year
was one billion. There are now 10000
theaters and other places where NOV
les are regularly exhibited, including
numerous travelling movie theaters
which serve outlying districts, collec-
tive farms and small villages.
Plans to wire most of the perman-
ent theaters for sound and to produce
portable sound projection machines
for the travelling movie theaters are
now afoot, according to Professor
Shorin. The installation of sound
equipment has been delayed UP till
now by the controversy over the width
OF the film to be used. 1t has now
been decided, however, to use, wher-
ever possible, narrow film which re-
quires less costly equipment both for
producing and exhibition.
Russians need no announcement
to attend the movies. The Russian
equivalent of the Standing Room
Only" sign is constantly in evidence
wherever. films are exhibited, says
Shorin.
One question, Shorin smilingly re-
fused to answer on the grounds that
he did not care to discuss anything
which bordered on politics: do you
think he was asked, that progress
siye development is possible for
science in countries where there is
p-going economic crisis?"