Royal Institute of Science

Check out the website: http://www.rigb.org/

The Royal Institute of Science looks like a fun place to be as a child, but it was of poor taste for me.

The Institute focuses on educating people of all ages about scientific discoveries and the history of scientists that in the lecture theatre. We learned a great deal about the initial history of the institution and why science is was so important: to benefit Britain. The establishment began in 1799, just two decades after Britain lost their American colonies, so the educated class of Britain believed using science could improve Britain's control and power. This drive eventually led to the discoveries of ten elements in the building. Experiments with laughing gas and liquid hydrogen was also held in the building. Particularly, we learned a little history invovled in the lectures of Humphrey's nitrous oxide in the early 1800s, Faraday's experiments on densitites of wood blocks on different elements in the 1850s, Deware's liquid hydrogen lectures in the early 1900s, and Bragg's work on electronics in the 1960s.

The Royal Institute works as a museum of items scientists made, used, and thought of. These are on display around the building, but mostly in the basement floor, where items are organized by scientific subject such as dealing with light or chemistry. Important artifacts are held here, such as miner's lamps and improvements, which would safely allow miners to see in their dark cavernous work environment without igniting any coal on accident.

The Institute does not focus on research at the moment. In fact, they're mostly known for their Christmas lectures. Nevertheless, famous scientists still come and speak in the lecture theatre, and I certainly would not mind attending one, if the lecture is not about chemistry.

Frankly, the Royal Institute did not suit my tastes. No matter how much our historian guide Frank James attempted to make science engaging, I could not pay attention for long periods of time. And I know this was rude of me, but I kept dozing off despite standing. I would have hoped to deal with books rather than scientific instruments and artifacts.