Director of the Royal Institution facts for kids

The Royal Institution is a famous place in Great Britain where scientists have been doing amazing research and sharing their discoveries with the public for over 200 years! It's like a special club for science, where people can learn about new ideas and experiments. The people who lead this important place are called directors. They help guide the research, manage the institution, and make sure science is shared with everyone.

Leaders of the Royal Institution

The Royal Institution has had many brilliant people leading it throughout its history. These directors have helped shape how we understand science today. They guide the research and make sure the institution continues to inspire people about science.

What is the Royal Institution?

The Royal Institution was founded in 1799. Its main goals are to teach people about science and to do new scientific research. It's famous for its public lectures, especially the Christmas Lectures, which have been happening since 1825. Many famous scientists have given these lectures, making complex science exciting for everyone, including young people.

What Does a Director Do?

A director at the Royal Institution is like the captain of a ship. They are in charge of the scientific work and the overall running of the institution. This includes deciding what research projects to focus on, managing the scientists and staff, and making sure the institution's mission to promote science is achieved. They play a huge role in keeping the Royal Institution at the forefront of scientific discovery and education.

Famous Directors Through History

Over the years, different roles for directors have been created as the Royal Institution grew. Here are some of the key leaders and when they started their important work.

Early Leaders of the Laboratory

These directors were in charge of the main scientific laboratory at the Royal Institution. They led groundbreaking experiments and made big discoveries.

• 1801 Humphry Davy: A very famous chemist who discovered several elements and invented the miner's safety lamp.
• 1825 Michael Faraday: Another incredibly important scientist who made huge discoveries in electricity and magnetism. He also started the famous Christmas Lectures.
• 1867 John Tyndall: A physicist who studied heat, light, and sound. He explained why the sky is blue!
• 1887 James Dewar: A chemist and physicist known for inventing the vacuum flask (like a thermos) and for his work with very cold temperatures.

Directors of the Davy-Faraday Research Laboratory

This laboratory was named after Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday, two of the Royal Institution's most famous scientists. The directors here focused on advanced research.

• 1896 James Dewar
• 1896 Lord Rayleigh: A Nobel Prize-winning physicist who discovered the element argon.
• 1923 William Bragg: A Nobel Prize-winning physicist who studied X-rays and crystals.
• 1942 Henry Hallett Dale: A Nobel Prize-winning pharmacologist who studied how nerves communicate.
• 1946 Eric Rideal: A physical chemist known for his work on surfaces and catalysts.
• 1950 Edward Andrade: A physicist who studied the flow of liquids and the properties of metals.
• 1954 Lawrence Bragg: The son of William Bragg, he also won a Nobel Prize for his work on X-ray diffraction, helping us understand the structure of materials.
• 1998 Richard Catlow: A chemist who uses computers to model materials and understand their properties.
• 2008 Quentin Pankhurst: A physicist who researches magnetic materials and their uses in medicine.

Overall Directors of the Royal Institution

These individuals held the top leadership role, overseeing all aspects of the Royal Institution, from research to public engagement.

• 1965 William Lawrence Bragg
• 1966 George, Baron Porter of Luddenham: A Nobel Prize-winning chemist who studied very fast chemical reactions.
• 1986 David Philips (acting): He stepped in temporarily to lead the institution.
• 1986 John Meurig Thomas: A chemist known for his work on catalysts and materials science.
• 1991 Peter Day: A chemist who studied magnetic and electronic properties of materials.
• 1998 Susan Greenfield, Baroness Greenfield: A neuroscientist who researches the brain and consciousness.
• 2017 Sarah Harper: A social scientist who studies population change and aging.
• 2018 Shaun Fitzgerald: An engineer who works on energy efficiency and ventilation.
• 2022 Katherine Mathieson: A science communicator and leader, helping to make science exciting and understandable for everyone.