- Royal Institution
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Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 1856
The Royal Institution of Great Britain (often abbreviated as the Royal Institution or RI) is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.
Contents
Overview
The Royal Institution was founded in 1799 by the leading British scientists of the age, including Henry Cavendish and its first president, George Finch, the 9th Earl of Winchilsea, for "diffusing the knowledge, and facilitating the general introduction, of useful mechanical inventions and improvements; and for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the application of science to the common purposes of life." Much of its initial funding and the initial proposal for its founding were given by the Society for Bettering the Conditions and Improving the Comforts of the Poor, under the guidance of philanthropist Sir Thomas Bernard and American-born British scientist Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford. Since its founding it has been based on Albemarle Street in Mayfair. Its Royal Charter was granted in 1800.
History
The Royal Institution ca. 1838.Throughout its history, the Institution has supported public engagement with science through a programme of lectures, many of which continue today. The most famous of these are the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, founded by Michael Faraday.
The Institution has had an instrumental role in the advancement of science since its founding. Notable scientists who have worked there include Sir Humphry Davy (who discovered sodium and potassium), Michael Faraday, James Dewar, Sir William and Sir Lawrence Bragg (who won the Nobel prize for their work on x-ray diffraction), Max Perutz, John Kendrew, Antony Hewish and George Porter. In the 19th century, Faraday carried out much of the research which laid the groundwork for the practical exploitation of electricity at the Royal Institution. In total fourteen scientists attached to the Royal Institution have won Nobel Prizes. Ten chemical elements including sodium were discovered at the Institution, as well as the electric generator and the atomic structure of crystals.
Presidents
Since 1799, the Royal Institution has had fifteen Presidents and one Acting-President.[1]
- 1799 - George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea
- 1813 - George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
- 1825 - Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester
- 1827 - Edward Adolphus Seymour, 11th Duke of Somerset
- 1842 - Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland
- 1865 - Sir Henry Holland, 1st Baronet
- 1873 - Algernon George Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland
- 1899 - Henry George Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland
- 1918 - Alan Ian Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland
- 1930 - Eustace Sutherland Campbell Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle
- 1945 - Robert John Strutt, 4th Baron Rayleigh
- 1948 - John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara
- 1963 - Alexander Fleck, 1st Baron Fleck
- 1968 - William Wellclose Davis (acting)
- 1969 - Harold Roxbee Cox, Baron Kings Norton
- 1976 - Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Directors
Main article: Directors of the Royal InstitutionThe leadership of the Royal Institution has had various titles:
- Director of the Laboratory
- Director of the Davy-Faraday Research Laboratory
- Director
The last director was Susan Greenfield.
Andrade controversy
In 1952, Edward Andrade was forced to resign following a complicated controversy over the management of the Royal Institution and his powers as Director, involving a power struggle with Alexander Rankine who was Secretary. Following various resignations and general meetings of members, Andrade was awarded £7,000 by arbitration: the arbitrators blamed the problems on "a lack of clear definition of roles... an outdated constitution, and the inability of the protagonists to compromise". Andrade launched a lawsuit to set the arbitration aside which he lost.[2]
Greenfield controversy
Until 8 January 2010, the Director of the Royal Institution was Baroness (Susan) Greenfield, but following a review,[3] she was made redundant,[4] and subsequently announced that she would be suing for discrimination.[5] The RI's official statement stated that:
"The Ri will continue to deliver its main charitable objectives under the direction of Chief Executive Officer, Chris Rofe and a talented senior team including Professor Quentin Pankhurst, the Director of the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory, Dr Gail Cardew, the Head of Programmes and Professor Frank James, Head of Collections and Heritage."[6]The Royal Institution today
The exterior of the Royal Institution todayToday the Royal Institution is committed to "diffusing science for the common purposes of life". Membership is open to all, with no nomination procedure or academic requirements, on payment of an annual subscription. School membership is free.
The Institutions patrons and trustees include:
- Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
- Vice Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales
- President: HRH The Duke of Kent
- Honorary Vice President: Sir John Ritblat
- Chairman: Sir Richard Sykes
- Board of Trustees (appointed 16 May 2011): Prof. Chris Bishop, Howard Covington, Hugh Harper, Prof. Sir Peter Knight, Prof. Sir David Wallace, Prof. Julia Buckingham, Prof. Alan Davies, Dr. Martin Knight, Rod McGregor, Lord Robert Winston.[7]
The Institution's palatial home has been greatly enlarged and redeveloped since 1799, and is a Grade I listed building. As well as the famous Faraday Lecture Theatre, the building contains several function rooms, a substantial library, modern research facilities and a public restaurant.
The Institution (today abbreviated as the Ri) has a substantial public science programme and science for schools programme, holding over one hundred events per year on a wide variety of topics. The Christmas Lectures continue today as a series of five televised lectures aimed at children. The Friday Evening Discourses are monthly lectures given by eminent scientists, each limited to exactly one hour, a tradition started by Faraday. These lectures are open to all members of the Royal Institution and their guests. Many other events and lectures are held both at Albemarle Street and at other venues around the country.
Scientific research headed by Professor Quentin Pankhurst continues to be done under the auspices of the Davy-Faraday Research Laboratory (DFRL), and indeed this is considered to be one of the UK's most notable labs in nano-science[by whom?].
Fellows of the Royal Institution may use the initials FRI after their names. Members may use MRI and associate members may use AMRI after their names.
The Faraday Museum
In 1973 the Royal Institution opened a museum dedicated to Michael Faraday. It is in the main building in Albemarle Street and is open to the public during weekday office hours. There is a reconstruction of one of Faraday's laboratories and a second room containing further historic apparatus and other items associated with Faraday.
The Royal Institution of Australia
The Royal Institution of Australia, the only other Royal Institution in the world[citation needed], was opened in Adelaide on 8 October 2009 by HRH, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
See also
- British Association for the Advancement of Science
- Directors of the Royal Institution
- Gresham College
- Hakluyt Society
- History of science
- Learned societies
- Royal Academy of Sciences
References
- ^ RI Presidents since 1799, Royal Institution website, accessed 26/02/2011
- ^ Frank James & Vivianne Quirke "L'Affaire Andrade" in The Common Purposes of Life (Ashgate, 2002)
- ^ BBC (8 December 2009). "Science body confirms review". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8402701.stm. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ The Times (9 January 2010). "Baroness Greenfield loses her job in Royal Institution shake-up". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6981622.ece. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ BBC (9 January 2010). "Royal Institution former chief suing for discrimination". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8449718.stm. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ Press Statement — Baroness Greenfield and the role of Director at the Royal Institution, Royal Institution, UK, 8 January 2010.
- ^ Board of Trustees, Royal Institution, UK.
External links
- The Royal Institution of Great Britain
- The Davy Faraday Research Laboratory
- All parts and information you will need to build a Faraday DC Homopolar Magnet Motor.
- The Science Media Centre
Coordinates: 51°30′35″N 0°08′33″W / 51.5098°N 0.1425°W
Categories:- 1799 establishments in Great Britain
- Royal Institution
- Scientific societies
- Education in London
- Science and technology in the United Kingdom
- Learned societies of the United Kingdom
- Science museums in the United Kingdom
- Biographical museums in the United Kingdom
- Organisations based in London with royal patronage
- Museums in Westminster
- Organizations established in 1799
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