Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1950
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1950] U N I V E R S I T Y OF I L L I N O I S 965 against industrial laboratories noting what has been done and exploiting the scientific significance of this discovery, unless the University desires to patent them. In the opinion of the Chairman of the University Research Board and his expert adviser on these particular cases, it is extremely unlikely that the discoveries would have any commercial value in themselves. Unless the University could follow an all-out patent program with promotion and development, the expense and work involved in patenting the discoveries would not be justified. The Chairman of the University Research Board recommends that these discoveries be released to the discoverers. The Department of Electrical Engineering reports an invention by Paul M. Kintner, Instructor in Electrical Engineering, of a specialized oscilloscope intended for the study of low-frequency alternating current circuits. While this instrument may be useful in student laboratories, the likelihood that a patent covering these devices can be secured is very small in view of the amount of prior work done in this field. The practical significance of this invention appears to be small. The Chairman of the University Research Board therefore recommends release of this discovery to the inventor. I concur in these recommendations. On motion of Mr. Hickman, these releases were authorized as recommended. APPRECIATION OF ROGER ADAMS President Stoddard called attention to the election of Professor Roger Adams to be President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1950. This is the largest organization of scientists in the world, and the election is a merited recognition of the eminent scientific attainments of Dr. Adams. On motion of Mr. McLaughlin, the Secretary was directed to make record of the Board's appreciation of the attainments of Dr. Adams, and to prepare a copy for presentation to him. STATUS OF APPLICATION FOR PATENT ON ELECTROSTATIC STORAGE SYSTEM FOR HIGH-SPEED COMPUTERS (3) At its meeting on January 8, 1948 (Minutes, page 955), the Board authorized the filing of a patent application covering an invention by Professor Arthur L. Samuel of an electrostatic storage device for use in connection with high-speed computers. The University's patent attorney has discovered a possible interference with this patent. In the meantime, Professor Samuel has left the University and developments in computer work during the past two years indicate that the Samuel invention will have far less significance than was thought at first. Therefore, the Chairman of the University Research Board recommends that the University do not prosecute an application for this patent. I concur. On motion of Dr. Meyer, this recommendation was adopted. STATE APPROPRIATION FOR AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURES AND REMODELING PRESENT AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS (4) The State appropriations to the University for 1949-1951 for buildings and other capital improvements include $305,000 for "Construction of Agricultural Structures and Remodeling Present Agricultural Buildings." 1 The Building Committee of the College of Agriculture has recommended that this appropriation be allocated for the following improvements: Agricultural Engineering For construction of new space $120 000 For improvements in old space 40 000 $160 000 1 The line appropriation is $290,000 and $15,000 is included for this purpose in the item for Contingencies.
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