3o6 



NATURE 



[November 13, 1919 



up by Mr. Harry Redfern for the erection of this 

 institute on the Downing site. 



The special lectures by Sir J. J. Thomson on positive 

 rays, and by Prof. Eddington on the theory of rela- 

 tivity and gravitation, have been postponed until the 

 Lent term. 



The recommendations of the General Board of ' 

 Studies on (a) a proposed readership in geography, 

 (b) a proposed readership in agricultural physiology, 

 and (c) a proposed readership in estate management 

 have been passed by the Senate. 



The University is full to overflowing, and the diffi- 

 culty of obtaining accommodation has been met only 

 partially by extending the limits to a 2^-mile radius 

 from Great St. Mary's Church. Practically all the 

 colleges are strictly limiting their numbers. One of 

 the most striking characteristics of the post-war 

 population is the enormous increase in the numbers 

 of men pursuing the study of natural, economic, and 

 mechanical sciences. For example, the engineering ■ 

 school has now between 600 and 700 students ; in the 

 chemistry school between iioo and 1200 names have I 

 been entered for lectures and nearly 1000 for practical | 

 work ; while, instead of the 100 expected, some 

 240 students attended the elementary class in physio- 

 logy. The difficulties of accommodation are severe ' 

 now, but next year and the year after, when these \ 

 students have passed the elementary stage and require ; 

 more elaborate equipment and teaching, the situation { 

 will be almost impossible unless steps are taken to 

 increase the laboratory accommodation and teaching 

 resources. The difficulty in doing so is partly that of 

 building — though, fortunately, the building strike has 

 just been settled — and partly that of providing the 

 funds required for construction, equipment, and per- 

 sonnel. Some help in this direction may be expected 

 from the State, but the State will not be able to replace 

 the private benefactor in assisting the University in its ; 

 present exceptional opportunity of promoting the teach- ; 

 ing of and research in science. 



Oxford. — The question of admitting women to j 

 matriculation and degrees has entered upon a new : 

 phase. It had been intended to seek Parliamentary ; 

 sanction for the framing by the University of provi- j 

 sions for the removal of the academic disabilities of ' 

 women. It now appears that, by the unsolicited action ; 

 of the House of Commons itself, the way will be '. 

 opened for the admission of women to matriculation 

 and degrees without any special appeal to Parliament 

 for the purpose. Legislation with this object will 

 probably be undertaken in the near future. 



Col. Thomas E. Lawrence, a leading authority 

 on the topography, ethnology, and languages of 

 Arabia and Mesopotamia, distinguished also for his 

 political and military services in the late Arabian anti- 

 Turkish campaign, has been elected to a research 

 fellowship at All Souls College. 



In Congregation on November 11, the statute 

 making Greek optional in Responsions, which was 

 thrown out by Convocation in June last, was re- 

 introduced with a fresh preamble, under which it will 

 be possible for amendments to be moved limiting the 

 exemption from compulsory Greek to candidates for 

 honours in science or mathematics, and to candidates 

 for a pass degree. The preamble, after speeches by 

 Mr. Barker, of New College, and Prof. Gilbert Murray, 

 passed without a division. 



Dr. j. H. Grindley, of Cork, has been appointed 

 principal of the Dudley Technical College. 



Dr. Alex Hill is resigning the principalship of 

 University College, Southampton, in order to devote 

 his full activities to the Universities Bureau, of which 

 he is secretary. 



NO. 261 1, VOL. 104] 



Miss M. E. Laing has been appointed research 

 assistant in physical chemistry in connection with the 

 Leverhulme chair of physical chemistry at the Uni- 

 versity of Bristol. 



A READER in estate management is shortly to be 

 appointed by the General Board of Studies of the 

 University of Cambridge at an annual stipend of 

 SooZ. Applications for the post must be sent to the 

 Vice-Chancellor on or before November 30. 



.Applications are invited by the Senate of the Uni- 

 versity of London for the Keddey Fletcher-Warr 

 studentships for the promotion of post-graduate re- 

 search. The studentships are open to men and 

 women, tenable for three years, and of the annua! 

 value of not less than 200L Applications must 

 be received by the .Academic Registrar of the Univer- 

 sity of London, South Kensington, S.W.7, not later 

 than December 31 next. 



A SERIES of free public lectures has been arranged for 

 delivery in the botanical lecture-room of the Universitv 

 of Glasgow during the winter session, 1919-20, at 

 8.30 p.m., on the second Monday of each month from 

 November to March inclusive. The list of lectures, 

 including that by Prof. C. H. Desch, on November 10. 

 on "The Growth of Crystals," is as follows: — On 

 December 8, "Scotland and France," Prof. R. S. 

 Rait; on January 12, "The Language of the Poilus " r 

 on February 9, "The Beginnings of Geography," 

 Prof. J. W. Gregory ; and on March 8. " Finance and 

 Reconstruction," .Prof. W. R. Scott. 



Prof. John Cox will resume on Monday next, at 

 6.30 p.m., the course of lectures on modern scientific 

 discoveries and their practical application to life and 

 industry at Gresham College, Basinghall Street, F.C. 2. 

 bv a lecture on "Oerstedt and the Telegraph." These 

 lectures are given mainly with the view of enforcing 

 the need that applied science is necessary, not onlv 

 for the commercial prosperity of any modern com- 

 munity, but also for its very existence. Other lectures 

 in the course deal with long-distance telephony, the 

 motor and dynamo, the nature of light, stro.imlini's 

 and aeroplanes, sound-ranging, directional wireless, 

 listening under water, radio-activity, etc. 



The annual general meeting of the Science Masters' 

 Association will be held at the London Day Training 

 College, Southampton Row, W.C.i, on Tuesday and 

 Wednesday, January 6 and 7, 1920, under the presi- 

 dency of Mr. W. W. Vaughan, maste-- of Wellington 

 College. .Among the subjects to be discussed are : — 

 The Teaching of Organic Chemistry; Biology in the 

 School Science Syllabus ; Laboratory Management- — 

 (a) Training of .Assistants and (b) Cost of Apparatus; 

 .Science Teaching in the Early Stages — (a) Science in 

 the Preparatory School and in Common Entrance and 

 Entrance Scholarship Examinations for Public Schools, 

 and (b) Teaching Junior Forms ; and The Divorce of 

 Laboratorv ond Class-room Courses. 



A CONFERENCE of representative men and women 

 which met at the Bedford College for Women (Uni- 

 versity of London) on November 5 unanimously 

 decided on carrying out an extension which will in- 

 volve an appeal to the public for funds. In order to 

 organise the appeal, an executive committee has been 

 appointed, of which Col. Sir Hildred Carlile, Bart., 

 M.P., is chairman and Viscountess Elveden hon. 

 treasurer. The college, built to accommodate 400 

 students, now has .550. The proportion of science 

 students has greatly increased, and is now one-third 

 of the total number. In the chemistry department the 

 students number 130, and the working places are only 

 forty-six. In the matter of residence the same diffi- 

 culties occur; despite the addition of three new 



