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John Hillman, Director's Report,
SCRI 2003/2004
Editorial
Filed 14 Apr 05
©www.land-care.org.uk
The Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) Annual
Report for the year 2003/2004 has just been published. As customary
it contains a "Report of the Director".
Professor John R. Hillman has written 19 of these
Director's Reports. But this is his last, as he retired on 31st
March 2005 after an immensely successful period at the helm of this
world famous research institute - the leading crop research institute
in Europe.
Characteristic of his Director's Reports - and
placing them head and shoulders above those from most other research
institutions in the UK - is their thoughtful analysis of the local
and global scene in relation to his area of expertise.
Professor John R. Hillman
Author of his 19th and final Director's Report,
Scottish Crop Research Unit (SCRI)
(Photo courtesy of SCRI)
to enlarge Click Here
On this occasion his report (1)
contains particularly informative comment on the political, social
and economic issues that are currently affecting the progress of
science, engineering and technology.
The following is a particularly pertinent abstract,
describing why agriculture in the UK is lacking the opportunity
to thrive.
"'When you are courting a nice girl,' said Albert Einstein,
the Noble Laureate physicist, whose bust sits on the windowsill
of my Personal Assistant, 'an hour seems like a second. When you
sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour. That's relativity'.
Agriculture is relatively more important than most other human
activities - it is the basis of sustenance and civilisation, after
all - but in terms of perception of those that people our towns
and cities and body politic, it seems less important than entertainment,
celebrity, sport, recreation, having a good time, and just about
any other activity. That's relativity , too."
Professor John Hillman
There can be little doubt that future articles
in Land-Care will refer to Hillman's most recent report, which takes
the form of a small selection of topics discussed in the last 9
of his reports.
©www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Hillman, John R. (2005). Report
of the Director.
Scottish Crop Research Institute, Annual Report 2003-2004. pp 11-101
http://www.scri.ac.uk
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