The 2009 Eckersley Lecture: The Genius of Michael Faraday

The 2009 Eckersley Lecture: The Genius of Michael Faraday

22/04/2009

Speaker: Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas FRS FREng Tuesday 5th May 7.30pm, Bedales Olivier Theatre

Lord Rutherford said of Michael Faraday that he was one of the greatest experimenters ever; Albert Einstein believed that Faraday was responsible for the greatest change in the intellectual structure of physics since Newton. There is little doubt that Faraday bequeathed a greater corpus of useful knowledge than any other physical scientist. How did Faraday, a deeply religious man who left school at 13 to become an errand boy and then apprentice to a bookbinder (a young man who never attended high school or a university and knew no mathematics), reach such pinnacles?

The tale of Faraday’s achievements and discoveries is one of the most romantic in the history of science; his character, intellect and commitment speak to us through all ages. In terms that are intelligible to lay persons, eminent scientist Sir John Meurig Thomas will endeavour to answer the above and related questions.

Sir John Meurig Thomas once occupied the chair of chemistry created for Michael Faraday at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, of which he was director (1986-1991). Formerly he was Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Cambridge (1978-1996) and Master of Peterhouse (1993-2002).

In 1991 he was knighted for “Services to Chemistry and the Popularisation of Science”. He is now Honorary Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Cambridge.

For tickets, phone 01730 711511 or e-mail tickets@bedales.org.uk

Back to Latest News

© Bedales Schools   site by Wickedweb