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however, a long-term policy, and returns are slow. The Spanish Nuclear Energy Board is producing radio-pharmaceuticals for research and therapy. The Juan de la Cierva Foundation of Scientific Research has established a Department of Applied Pharmacology in Barcelona to investigate new drugs. Attention is being given to atmospheric contaminants, synthesis and trial of glycosides, isolation of natural plant products, and synthesis of enzyme inhibitors. The Max Planck Society of West Germany assists in this work through exchange of professional personnel. Biochemical investigations have been of a practical nature, emphasizing studies of enzyme chemistry, metabolism, preservation of fish and meat products, and lyophilization of fonds. The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has supported the study of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the sea. Spain has become interested in the exploitation of yeast for the production of edible protein, especially fodder.
Some effort is devoted to protection from environmental hazards. The Higher Council on Occupational Health and Safety is promoting studies on industrial health protection. Private research is encouraged on environmental control. Good work is done on radio-ecology, especially contamination by plutonium and uranium.
Military medical research is limited by lack of funds and qualified research personnel. The army's Military Medical School of Application and its subordinate Captain Ramon y Cajal Army Institute of Preventive Medicine are the major medical research facilities in the armed forces. The school coordinates technical research for the army, conducts surgical research, and studies the application of medical research to the military medical services. The institute carries out research biochemistry, epidemiology, hematology, nutrition, radiation and radiation protection, and toxicology. In the air force, the Institute of Clinical and Aerospace Medicine is responsible for aerospace medicine. The Spanish Navy has almost no capability for medical research, but it has done work in underwater physiology at the Submarine School Training Center in Cartagena.
6. Other sciences (S)
a. Chemistry and metallurgy
Spain is making progress in chemical research but is not considered among the leading European countries in chemistry. The volume of published research has increased, but it is still small compared with that published by France or Italy. Research in all of the important branches of chemistry is conducted in the research institutes of the CSIC and in several universities. Research in analytical and organic chemistry and in biochemistry is strongest. Francisco Bermejo Martinez and associates at the University of Santiago do extensive research on the analytical use of chelating agents, particularly for spectrophotometric determinations. The Juan Vigon National Center of Nuclear Energy is concerned with the development of analytical methods useful in connection with its nuclear research. This center is active in various aspects of nuclear technology involving organic and physical chemistry, including production of uranium, purification of uranium hexafluoride by distillation, separation of stable isotopes by ion exchange techniques, and processing of reactor fuels.
A moderate amount of organic chemical research is done at several universities, including an increasing amount of synthetic work. The strongest activity in organic chemistry is at the CSIC National Center of Organic Chemistry, Madrid. The Institute of General Organic Chemistry, a part of this center, does research on alkaloids, terpenes, and pharmacologically active synthetic compounds, including antihistamines, and psychotropic agents. The Institutes of Plastics and Rubber, also part of this center, is the leading laboratory for high-polymer research, and research is in progress on vinyl polymerizations, polymerization of isocyanates, poly (phenylene oxide), and polyamides. The University of La Laguna in the Canary Islands specializes in the organic chemistry of marine and other natural products. The CSIC Antonio Gregorio Rocasolano Institute of Physical Chemistry, Madrid, is prominent in physical organic chemistry in the study of organic reaction mechanisms, molecular orbital calculations, and conformational analysis.
Spain has relatively little capability in metallurgical research and development. Although the metallurgical research effort has increased during the past few years, the emphasis has been directed toward developing a research capability in solving production problems in the small steel and nonferrous metals industries. The principal facility for metallurgical research is the National Center for Metallurgical Investigations, Madrid, under the Patronato Juan de la Cierva. Research there has been concerned with ore enrichment, steelmaking operations, foundry technology, corrosion studies and welding, with particular emphasis upon the development of optimum casting conditions for the elimination of defects in aluminum and copper alloy castings. The only higher educational facility that does significant metallurgical research is the Department of Metal Physics at the
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