Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory facts for kids

The Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory was a special place in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was started in 1906 by a famous explorer named William Speirs Bruce. Bruce had traveled a lot to the cold lands of the Antarctic and Arctic. He even led a big trip called the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition from 1902 to 1904.

Bruce first studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. But he changed his studies to natural sciences, which is about nature and the world around us. Because of his many adventures, he became known as an expert in polar science. He collected many interesting things, like plants, animals, rocks, and information about weather and magnets. The laboratory was a place to study, keep, and show all these amazing discoveries. It was also Bruce's office and a place to plan new expeditions.

What was the Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory?

The Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory was set up in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh. It was a very important place for science. Bruce used it to look closely at all the things he brought back from his trips.

• It held many different specimens. These included plants (botany), animals (biology and zoology), and rocks (geology).
• It also stored lots of data. This was information about the weather (meteorology) and how magnets work (magnetism).
• The lab was also Bruce's office. From here, he worked on reports about his big expedition.
• It was a base for planning future trips to cold places.

Who was William Speirs Bruce?

William Speirs Bruce was a very adventurous and smart scientist. He loved exploring the Earth's polar regions. His most famous trip was the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition. On this journey, he and his team explored parts of Antarctica. They gathered a huge amount of scientific information and samples. Bruce was dedicated to understanding our planet's oceans and polar environments.

A Dream for a National Institute

William Speirs Bruce had a big dream for his laboratory. He wanted it to grow into a much larger place. He hoped it would become a Scottish National Oceanographical Institute. This would be a major center for studying the oceans in Scotland.

In May 1914, a meeting was held to talk about this idea. Many important Scottish scientists supported Bruce's plan. They even started a committee to help make it happen. However, their plans had to stop suddenly. World War I began in August 1914, and the idea was put on hold. It was never started again after the war.

The Lab Closes Its Doors

Sadly, the Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory had to close. In 1919, Bruce faced two big problems. He didn't have enough money to keep the lab running. Also, his health was getting worse.

Because of these issues, Bruce had to shut down his beloved laboratory. He made sure all his valuable collections found new homes. He gave the specimens, books, and other materials to important places. These included the University of Edinburgh, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, and the Royal Scottish Museum. William Speirs Bruce passed away in 1921 after his illness.

Sources

• Speak, Peter: William Speirs Bruce, Polar Explorer and Scottish Nationalist National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh 2003 ISBN: 1-901663-71-X