Over the course of a single working meal, everyone settled on a new research project. Many researchers from the other groups were stimulated by it. There was no other reason—the Optics Group had simply produced too many major breakthroughs lately. First came the telescope, then the camera, and now they were going to create the key to a new world. If they could pull it off, every one of these would be a tremendous achievement.
The Rubber and Chemistry Groups, by contrast, mostly studied basic materials or improved production processes. They had produced plenty of results, but none could compare with the camera's enormous impact. No matter how brilliantly they mined and processed ore or how high their metallurgical efficiency was, ordinary farmers could not see it. Now even the Steam Engine from the Power Research Institute had a bigger reputation than theirs. How could that not make them angry?
Yet basic materials science was of paramount importance. Others might not understand that, but Luo Chong knew it well. Thus, doing ideological work for these researchers was also one of Luo Chong's responsibilities.
After looking around at everyone's expressions, Luo Chong smiled and said, "I know everyone is eager to earn merit, and I know you all hope to produce some dazzling technological achievement like the Optics Group. But in my heart, basic materials are the cornerstone of all technology. Without your rubber, we couldn't make advanced machinery and tools, nor could we make faster tires. Without the Chemistry Group, we couldn't produce such advanced weapons or better steel.
"We still have a long road ahead of us. The steam engine will absolutely be the top priority for our future development, but that isn't something the Power Research Institute can accomplish on its own. It requires the joint efforts of