Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1942 [PAGE 53]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[September 27

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICES (26) Preliminary negotiations are now under way with the National Defense Research Committee of the Council of National Defense for research work by the University on problems of a confidential nature which are directly or indirectly related to the program of national defense. The Committee has submitted a tentative draft of a contract which it proposes to use to cover such research projects and has invited suggestions. The tentative draft of the contract has been studied by the University Counsel and the Comptroller, and their suggestions for certain changes therein have been passed on to the Committee. When the contract is in final form and the projects on which the University has been asked to work have been set up, it may be necessary to act promptly instead of waiting until a Board meeting to secure approval. Under the circumstances it is recommended that the Board authorize its President or the President of the University (or both) to conduct the necessary negotiations and take such action as in their judgment is appropriate in the public interest. O n m o t i o n of D r . M e y e r , t h e P r e s i d e n t of given authority as recommended. the University was

RELEASE OF PATENTS ON DISCOVERIES BY MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY (27) The Faculty Committee on Patents on July 25, 1940, reported on the following discoveries by members of the faculty: 1. D. W. Kerst, Instructor in Physics, a magnetic electron accelerator, which produces high speed electrons of several million volts energy by increasing the magnetic flux within the orbit of an electron travelling in a magnetic field, an apparatus designed and built by him. Doctor Kerst informed the Committee that with further development such an apparatus might produce an intensity of X-rays which could be used in therapy, in the production of radioactive substances for medical treatment, and for research. The apparatus has many other uses to physicists. The Committee recommended that this discovery be released to Doctor Kerst because, while it may have real scientific value, the patent application would be too costly and complicated, and the commercial returns too insignificant to warrant the expense. 2. Professor Roger Adams of the Department of Chemistry has isolated a crystalline compound called cannabidiol from red oil extracted from hemp. T h e possible practical application of this is unknown, but the discovery is of great scientific interest. In the judgment of the Committee this discovery while scientifically interesting does not warrant the expenditure of money involved in filing the required number of applications, and the scientific aspect was not such as to require protection of the public interests by the University. The Committee therefore recommended that this discovery be released to Professor Adams. Since it was necessary to take action on this before the present meeting of the Board of Trustees, the report of the Faculty Committee was submitted to the Committee on Patents of the Board which recommended approval and to the Executive Committee which authorized the release of these discoveries.

On motion of Mr. Williamson, this action was approved and confirmed.

PURCHASE OF COAL FOR THE URBANA DEPARTMENTS

(28) The following schedule of bids secured by the Purchasing Agent for coal for the power plants for the heating season of 1040-1941: All quotations are subject to code prices established by the National Bituminous Coal Commission, which at the present time has announced a schedule with a minimum price of $1.75 per ton on all coal beginning October 1, 1940. Unless there is a change in that order that minimum will prevail.