474 



NA TURE 



[February 17, 1910 



The Emperor William has greatly influenced the rise of 

 the technical universities by his consistent efforts to raise 

 the status of the three (now four) situated in Prussia. He 

 began by suggesting reforms in the secondary-school 

 system, then called the principals of the technical universi- 

 ties into the Prussian Upper House, and finally conferred 

 upon the Prussian technical universities the power of grant- 

 ing the degree of Doctor of Engineering. The rest of the 

 Empire followed his example, and thus the ten technical 

 universities have been finally placed upon exactly the same 

 footing as the older universities. 



One reason why technical-school students in Germany 

 possess a better educational equipment for their work 

 than in England is owing to the fact that the lower 

 divisions of the secondary schools are filled by students 

 who wish to obtain the one-year military certificate which 

 requires six years' attendance at a secondary school. The 

 high proportion of fully qualified students at the technical 

 universities is due to the fact that no examinations can be 

 passed or higher State or municipal positions obtained 

 without proof of the completion of a nine years' secondary- 

 school course. Another reason why so many students 

 attend the secondary schools and various universities in 

 Germany is due to the lowness of the fees and the cheap- 

 ness of living. To these reasons may be added the general 

 German tendency to obtain as high a standard of schooling 

 as possible before entering life. 



Young men in Germany subject themselves to a laborious 

 general and technical training, amounting after the pre- 

 paratory school to from ten to fifteen or sixteen years, 

 because the majority of those who complete their studies 

 are generally sure of finding positions. The State and 

 municipalities require large numbers for their various 

 technical services. This partly explains the interest of the 

 State in the quality of the instruction and the uniformitv 

 of the organisation of the technical universities. Most 

 manufacturers give the preference to students with 

 diplomas or degrees from the universities or technical 

 schools. This is a result of the intimate advisory rela- 

 tions between manufacturers and the technical universities. 

 Students are also sure of finding positions in the surround- 

 ing forftign countries, where large numbers of German 

 " techniker " are to be found in all branches of industry. 

 A further incentive to a longer course of studv is found 

 in the fact that, owing to the system of marriage dowries 

 in Germany, young men with a technical diploma or degree 

 are able to marry as soon as they obtain a position, even 

 with a very small initial salary. 



German students receive very little direct pecuniary 

 assistance. Scholarships on the liberal English scale are 

 practically unknown. There are a few modest " stipendia," 

 and very poor students, upon production of the necessary 

 proof,_ are allowed to study free and refund the amount 

 of their fees later when they are in a position to do so. 



Higher education of all types in Germany has been pro- 

 moted by two further factors. First, bv decentralisation 

 so far_ as the Empire is concerned, as the various States 

 of which the German Confederation is composed act in- 

 dependently in educational matters, and are constantly 

 competing with one another in the development of their 

 educational resources. Secondiv, by the fact that almost 

 all higher education is under direct State control, thereby 

 rendering uniformity of organisation and coordination 

 between institutions more easy. 



Finally, it should be borne in mind that the German 

 population exceeds the population of the United Kingdom 

 by about eighteen or nineteen millions. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 Cambridge.— The Rev. E. A. Woodruflfe-Peacock will 

 deliver a lecture at the Botany School on Friday, 

 _February i8, at 5.0 p.m., on " A Special Method of Record- 

 ing the Distribution of Plants." The lecture will be open 

 to all interested in the subject. 



Prof. W. Bateson, the Hon. N. C. Rothschild, and 



Mr. H. Scott, Inceptor in Arts, have been nominated 



to represent the University at the International Congress 



of Entomology to be held at Brussels in August, 1910. 



Sir J. Larmor has been nominated a member of the 



NO. 2103, VOL. 82] 



board of electors to the professorship of chemistry. Sir 

 Robert Ball to that of the Plumian professorsliip of 

 astronomy, and Dr. Glaisher a member of the same 

 board ; Prof. A. Robinson and Prof. A. Keith have been, 

 nominated members of the board of electors to the pro- 

 fessorship of anatomy. Dr. Darwin to that of the 

 professorship of botany, Prof. W. W. Watts to that of 

 the Woodwardian professorship of geology, Mr. A. 

 Hutchinson to the same board. Prof. H. B. Dixon to that 

 of the Jacksonian professorship of natural and experimental 

 philosophy. Prof. A. R. Cushny to that of the Downing 

 professorship of medicine. Dr. Hugo Miiller to that of 

 the professorship of mineralogy. Dr. R. T. Glazebrook 

 to that of the Cavendish professorship of experimental 

 physics. Dr. W. N. Shaw to that of the professorship 

 of mechanism and applied mechanics, Prof. F. Gotch to 

 that of the professorship of physiology. Sir W. W. Cheyne, 

 Bart., and Mr. C. T. Dent to that of the professorship 

 of surgery, Prof. J. Lorrain Smith to that of the pro- 

 fessorship of pathology, and Mr. E. Gardner, M.P., to 

 that of the professorsliip of agriculture. 



London. — In memory of the late Dr. Ludwig Mond's 

 scientific eminence and his generous benefaction of 3000?. 

 towards the building of the Institute of Pliysiology at 

 University College, the college committee has resolved to 

 name the biochemistry research department of the institute 

 " The Ludwig Mond Biochemistry Research Laboratory." 

 The committee will shortly proceed to elect a Crewdson- 

 Benington research student. The studentship, of the value 

 of 50/., tenable for one year in the biometric research 

 laboratory of the college, is for the promotion of research 

 in anthropometry and craniology in relation to evolution. 

 Candidates should send their applications, together with 

 any statement of qualifications that they desire to submit, 

 not later than March i to the secretary of University 

 College, Gower Street, W.C., who will furnish particulars 

 of the studentship. 



The degree of D.Sc. has been granted to Mr. W. B. 

 Tuck, an internal student, of University College, for a 

 thesis entitled " The Constitution of Hydroxyazo-com- 

 pounds," and other contributions. 



A scheme for the constitution of a board of the faculty 

 of medicine has been approved. 



Syllabuses have been approved in geology for inter- 

 mediate and final pass B..-\. examinations for external 

 students. Practical work is provided for in both sylla- 

 buses ; that for the intermediate examination includes the 

 interpretation of weather charts, and at the final examina- 

 tion candidates must give evidence of adequate instruction 

 in the field. 



Prof. A. W. Crossley, F.R.S., has been elected dean of ' 

 the faculty of science in succession to Prof. J. M. Thom.- 

 son. F.R.S., resigned. 



Dr. E. C. Seaton and Mr. W. H. Maxwell have been 

 appointed Chadwick lecturers in hygiene and municipal 

 engineering for the current session. 



Convocation has approved the proposals for the establish- 

 ment of a University of London Club. 



At the South-western Polytechnic Institute, Chelsea, on 

 March 11, Sir William H.' White, K.C.B., F.R.S., will 

 present prizes and certificates to students of the evening 

 classes and day college. 



The twelfth annual dinner of the Central Technical 

 College Old Students' .Association was held on Saturday, 

 February 12, at the Trocadero Restaurant, Mr. H. A. 

 Humphrey being in the chair. .Among the guests of the 

 evening were Sir Philip Magnus, M.P., who, in proposing 

 the toast of the association, mentioned the great progress 

 the Central Technical College has made and the invaluable 

 training received there. Prof. W. J. Pope, F.R.S., was 

 elected president for 1910. 



An interesting address to the junior members of the 

 architect's profession was given on January 31 by Mr. 

 Ernest George, president of "the Royal Institute of British 

 .Architects, and has been printed in the Builder for 

 February 5. Mr. George offered much valuable advice to 

 the student ; earnest application is necessary, _ and a 

 thorough education in science and art, as well as in wider 

 fields of knowledge. There will be no time for idling ; an 



