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Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
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Searching... | 30000010209400 | QD49.G7 C57 2009 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
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Summary
Summary
This fascinating and unique history reveals the major influence of the Oxford Chemistry School on the advancement of chemistry. It shows how the nature of the University, and individuals within it, have shaped the school and made great achievements both in teaching and research. The book will appeal to those interested in the history of science and education, the city of Oxford and chemistry in general. Chemistry has been studied in Oxford for centuries but this book focuses on the last 400 years and, in particular, the seminal work of Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, and the proto- Royal Society of the 1650's. Arranged in chronological fashion, it includes specialist studies of particular areas of innovation. The book shows that chemistry has advanced, not just as a consequence of research but, because of the idiosynchratic nature of the collegiate system and the characters of the individuals involved. In other words, it demonstrates that science is a human endeavour and its advance in any institution is conditioned by the organization and people within it. For chemists, the main appeal will be the book's examination of the way separate branches of chemistry (organic, physical, inorganic and biological) have evolved in Oxford. It also enables comparison with the development of the subject at other universities such as Cambridge, London and Manchester. For historians and sociologists, the book reveals the motivations of both scientists and non-scientists in the management of the School. It exposes the unusual character of Oxford University and the tensions between science and administration. The desire of the college to retain its academic values in the face of external and financial pressures is emphasized.
Author Notes
Dr Allan Chapman is a member of the Faculty of Modern History at Oxford University. After earning a first class honours degree at Lancaster University, Dr Chapman went on to obtain a DPhil at Oxford before reaching MA status in 1983. He became the Royal Society Prize Lecturer in 1994 and the University of Central Lancashire awarded him an honorary Doctorate in 2004. Dr Chapman has written eight books and contributed approximately eighty papers to major academic journals. He has also been involved with TV and radio programmes on science history, including two major documentary series. He lectures extensively in the UK and abroad. J.S. Rowlinson was Dr Lee's Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University between 1974 and 1993. He is a fellow of the Royal Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Society of Engineering and the Institute of Chemical Engineering. He is author or co-author of five books on physics, chemistry and engineering and four books on the history of science. R.J. P. Williams is Emeritus Professor at the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford. He started lecturering at Oxford in 1955 and became the Royal Society Research Professor in 1974. He is a fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has four honorary degrees in science and is fellow of four foreign academies.
Reviews 1
Choice Review
The pioneering 400-plus-year history of chemistry at this 800-year-old institution is well rendered in this multiauthored monograph. Along with Cambridge, Oxford University has a unique organization, based on a bottom-up approach with fellows of the constituent colleges retaining much of the administrative control. However, the university hierarchy with its power of financing (via the government) and appointment of professors has altered this structure, especially in chemistry. This book covers the transition from Aristotelian science and alchemy to modern chemistry and discusses associated great scientists such as Robert Boyle, William Perkin, and Robert Robinson. Contributors detail the evolution of Oxford chemistry in teaching (tutorial through lecture/demonstrations) and in research (from labs in basements, houses, and apothecaries, through large, distinct departmental laboratories and spin-off companies). The comparison of the evolution of the disciplines of chemistry with those of other universities is of interest. Although Oxford chemistry is more isolated than most from the "real world," cooperation with industry did evolve to some extent, and extensive contributions were made during WW II. Of interest to chemists, science historians, and administrators, as well as anyone interested in this venerable institution. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional audiences. R. E. Buntrock formerly, University of Maine
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 An Outline of the History of Oxford University with Reference to its Chemistry SchoolRobert J.P. Williams | |
1.1 An Introduction to the University | p. 1 |
1.2 The Beginnings of Chemistry within the University | p. 4 |
1.3 The Creation of Chemistry Departments | p. 8 |
1.4 The Teaching of Chemistry | p. 12 |
1.5 A Summary of Chemistry's Development | p. 13 |
References | p. 15 |
Chapter 2 From Alchemy to Airpumps: The Foundations of Oxford Chemistry to 1700Allan Chapman | |
2.1 Late Medieval English Alchemy | p. 17 |
2.2 The Hon. Robert Boyle and his Chemical World | p. 20 |
2.3 Where were the Laboratories? | p. 25 |
2.4 Oxford's `Invisible' Chemists: The City Apothecaries and their Laboratories | p. 26 |
2.5 The Oxford Airpump Discoveries | p. 30 |
2.6 John Mayow | p. 34 |
2.7 Thomas Willis | p. 36 |
2.8 The Revd John Ward: Amateur Chemist and Physician | p. 38 |
2.9 The Ashmolean Laboratory, 1683 | p. 40 |
Acknowledgements | p. 45 |
Notes and References | p. 46 |
Chapter 3 The Eighteenth Century: Chemistry Allied to AnatomyPeter J. T. Morris | |
3.1 Introduction | p. 52 |
3.2 Chemistry in the Eighteenth Century | p. 53 |
3.3 Oxford in the Eighteenth Century | p. 56 |
3.4 The Teaching of Chemistry in Eighteenth-Century Oxford | p. 58 |
3.5 The Revival of Chemistry after 1775 | p. 65 |
3.6 Conclusion | p. 71 |
References and Notes | p. 73 |
Chapter 4 Chemistry Comes of Age: The 19th CenturyJohn S. Rowlinson | |
4.1 The Aldrichian Chair | p. 79 |
4.2 Charles Daubeny and Reform | p. 83 |
4.3 The Museum | p. 93 |
4.4 Benjamin Brodie | p. 96 |
4.5 William Odling and his Demonstrators | p. 103 |
4.6 The College Laboratories and the Growth of Physical Chemistry | p. 113 |
References | p. 123 |
Chapter 5 Research as the Thing: Oxford Chemistry 1912-1939Jack Morrell | |
5.1 Introduction | p. 131 |
5.2 The Impact of Perkin | p. 132 |
5.3 The Contributions of the Colleges | p. 141 |
5.4 The Mancunian Inheritance | p. 157 |
5.5 The Dr Lee's Chair and Old Chemistry | p. 164 |
5.6 The Chemical Synthesiser | p. 170 |
5.7 X-Ray Crystallography | p. 173 |
5.8 Careers: The Lure of Industry | p. 175 |
5.9 Conclusion | p. 178 |
Notes and References | p. 179 |
Chapter 6 Interlude: Chemists at WarJohn S. Rowlinson | |
References | p. 192 |
Chapter 7 Recent Times, 1945-2005: A School of World RenownRobert J.P. Williams | |
7.1 General Introduction to the Period: The Three Centres of Influence | p. 195 |
7.1.1 The Three Periods 1945 to 1965, 1965 to 1980, 1980 to Today | p. 199 |
7.1.2 Summary | p. 204 |
7.2 Recruitment and the Nature of Professorships and Fellowship/Lectureships | p. 206 |
7.2.1 A Note on Women Fellows in Chemistry | p. 213 |
7.3 The Undergraduate Entry into Oxford and the Chemistry Course | p. 213 |
7.3.1 The Butler Education Act 1944 | p. 213 |
7.3.2 The Structure of the Chemistry Course | p. 216 |
7.3.3 The Content of the Undergraduate Course | p. 218 |
7.3.4 The Graduate School | p. 224 |
7.4 The Three Professors and the Three Departments of 1945 | p. 225 |
7.4.1 Hinshelwood and Physical Chemistry | p. 226 |
7.4.2 Robinson and Organic Chemistry | p. 231 |
7.4.3 The Third Professor: Sidgwick | p. 236 |
7.4.4 The Acting Heads and Nature of the Third Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry (1945-1963) | p. 238 |
7.5 Research 1945 to 1965 | p. 241 |
7.5.1 Theory and Mathematical Research | p. 244 |
7.5.2 Summary | p. 246 |
7.6 Research 1965 to 1980 | p. 247 |
7.6.1 The Revival of Inorganic Chemistry | p. 247 |
7.6.2 Organo-Metallic Chemistry | p. 251 |
7.6.3 Traditional Organic Chemistry | p. 253 |
7.6.4 Physical Chemistry | p. 254 |
7.6.5 Chemical Crystallography and Biophysics | p. 256 |
7.6.6 Theoretical Chemistry and its Short-Lived Department | p. 258 |
7.6.7 The Enzyme Group | p. 258 |
7.6.8 Life in Oxford, 1945-1980 | p. 261 |
7.7 Research: 1980 to 2005 | p. 262 |
7.7.1 Introduction | p. 262 |
7.7.2 Physical Chemistry | p. 263 |
7.7.3 Theoretical Chemistry Department | p. 266 |
7.7.4 Organic Chemistry | p. 267 |
7.7.5 Inorganic Chemistry | p. 270 |
7.7.6 Oxford Chemistry Today, 2008 | p. 273 |
Appendix 1 The Laboratories | p. 275 |
Acknowledgement | p. 282 |
Appendix 2 The Chemistry School Finances | p. 282 |
Acknowledgement | p. 283 |
Notes on Oxford University | p. 283 |
References | p. 286 |
Index of Names | p. 292 |
Index of Subjects | p. 301 |