Universities and Science in Scotland

Between 1411 and 1594 Scotland established four universities, at St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh (when England had but two – Oxford and Cambridge).

Although the 15th century saw the founding of the three of the universities, it produced no scientific men of note. Then in 1614 appeared the «the wonderful rule of logarithms» of John Napier which made possible computations hitherto undreamed of. It placed in the hands of calculators an instrument which has had a profound influence upon the progress of science even to our own day.

The great pioneer of the Industrial revolution in the 18th century was James Watt, inventor of the steam engine.

W. Th. Lord Kelvin, Professor of Natural philosophy in the University of Glasgow with Professor M. Rankine founded present-day thermodynamics. He formulated the two laws of thermodynamics – «potential» and «Kinetic» energy were his terms. To mention a few of his inventions – the mirror galvanometer, deep-sea sounding apparatus etc. The greatest British explorer is a Scot, David Livingston, who first opened up the «dark continent» as Africa was then known.

In literature Scotland has given Robert Burns for his poetry, Sir Walter Scott for his invention of the historical novel, R. S. Stevenson for his famous romances «Treasure Island» and «Kidnapped».

Robert Burns is regarded by the whole Scottish people as their national poet, and he has long occupied a date in the calendar. Every year, on the 25 of January his birthday is celebrated in cities, towns and villages, and by all kinds of clubs, associations, with a «Burns Supper», followed by the traditional toast, «To the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns». Then comes the real business f the evening: the speeches.

The four universities have followed the universal drift by developing highly specialized teaching and research in different branches of science.

New knowledge has been provided for by the learned societies through their meetings and publications, notably by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and by others devoted to special branches of industry.

All these long-established institutions will continue to play their part in Scotland’s scientific endeavour. In recent years there has been a growing realization of the practical value in industry of a scientific background. This has led to a greater demand for the training of youth in the universities and schools of applied science with the specialization which makes it possible for one person to be a scientific know-all. Planned research by teams of scientific workers has become imperative.

Cultural institutions and societies are a prominent feature of Scottish life.