The British Association

The Annual Meeting has always been the principal and best known activity of the Association and is the largest scientific gathering of its kind. The general form of the meeting has varied little with the passage of time. The number of sections, each representing a branch or branches of science, has increased with the breadth and wealth of science; and in recent years the tendency has been to emphasize that sectional proceedings are not only an opportunity for specialists to discuss their speciality among themselves, but a chance for them to present recent achievements in their speciality to an informed but non-specialist audience.

The history of the annual meeting is a distinguished record of achievement. The list of Presidents includes most of the great names of British science, with the notable exception of Charles Darwin, who was unable, for reasons of health, to accept office. The presidential addresses have gradually become the chief scientific pronouncement of the year and are given the widest publicity. Often the meetings have witnessed the announcement of some great new discovery ; for instance, Sir William Crooke's first demonstration in 1879 of the properties of a stream of electrons in a vacuum tube (now known as a cathode ray tube), Sir William Ramsay's announcement of the discovery of argon in 1894, and Sir J. J. Thomson's address "On the existence of masses smaller than atoms" in 1899. The applications of science have always been of particular interest to the Association. In 1856 Sir Henry Bessemer first described at the meeting his researches which were to revolutionise the steel industry; and in 1894 Sir Oliver Lodge gave the first public demonstration of "wireless" over a distance of a few hundred yards. There is also plenty of history of heated discussion; one need refer only to the Battle at Oxford in 1860 between Bishop Wilberforce, of Oxford, representing orthodoxy and Huxley and Hooker representing science.

When the annual meetings were resumed after the Second World War, it became clear that, owing to the very rapid advance of science, new thought was necessary on the future of the Association and the part it should play. An important additional aim is to promote a better understanding of the significance of scientific research and its impact upon society. Proposals included (1) the organisation throughout the year, in suitable centres, of special lectures, exhibitions, and discussions and (2) the formation of a "Junior British Association" with special lectures, demonstrations and exhibitions designed to stimulate the imagination of young people and to stress the adventure of scientific discovery. In January, 1958, on taking office as President, Sir Alexander Fleck, F.R.S. (who opened our Science Exhibition in 1955) announced the creation of a panel of lecturers, and as a result over 200 scientists interested in the presentation of science to the public have offered their services. At the Glasgow meeting in 1958 there were programmes specially for young people of scientific films and lectures and, at a very successful "Open Forum", a panel of eminent scientists answered questions from senior pupils. A similar 21

programme is being planned for the York Meeting. Plans are also being made for "Junior British Association" meetings to be held separately from the annual meetings.

The schools in York are staging a "Science in Schools" Exhibition, giving a cross-section of the work done in science at all levels and in all types of school. Furthermore, a small number of selected pupils are to give lectures to a section of the B.A. describing some research work which they themselves have done. St. Peter's School is taking part in the exhibition and two of our boys have been chosen to read a joint paper.

In addition to numerous meetings, there are many general and specialist excursions to places in York and district appealing to all kinds of interests.

This year sees the introduction of three lectureships, the "Kelven", the "Darwin" and the "Lister", open to scientists below 35 years of age, the purpose of which is to encourage the younger scientists to convey in non-specialist language to intelligent people, who are not experts, what research work he is doing and why.

The President for this year is Sir James Gray, C.B.E., M.C., F.R.S. He is one of Britain's leading Zoologists and has been Professor of Zoology at Cambridge since 1937. He has specialised in work on cells and the movement of animals and is an authority on both subjects. At 67 years of age, with 9 Fellows of the Royal Society in his department, he is continuing his researches on the movement of spermatozoa. In 1951 Sir James delivered the Royal Institution's Christmas lectures for children, his subject being "How Animals Move". We would all echo his closing remark, "In a human world so much concerned with ugly engines of destruction the concept of natural beauty provides welcome relief." It is fitting that a zoologist should be chosen as President in 1959—the centenary year of the publication of that great book, Darwin's "Origin of Species". The theme of the presidential address will be the importance of science to the community, the title being "The proper study of mankind is Man".

Anyone may become a member of the British Association, which is a non-profit making organisation. Membership fees are as follows : Members £3 3s. Od., Associates £2 2s. Od., Students and young people 10/-. Even so, income from membership fees is inadequate to meet all the expenses involved. It is only possible to hold an annual meeting because each year a local fund is raised by the city where the meeting is being held. The York local committee have launched an appeal for this meeting for £10,000.

There are 16 sections in the B.A., representing the many different branches of modern science, each with its own President, Vice-Presidents, Recorder, Secretary and Local Secretary. The meetings of Section A (Physics) and Section A* (Mathematics) will take place in 22

St. Peter's School, and senior boys (not necessarily scientists) are invited to offer their services as stewards, etc.

Other sections deal with Chemistry, Geology, Zoology, Geography, Economics, Engineering, Anthropology, Physiology and Biochemistry, Psychology, Botany and Forestry, Education, and Agriculture. Finally one section is called "The Assembly of Corresponding Societies" of which our Head Master is a vice-president. He is also a vice-president of the Association for the York meeting and a vice-chairman of the Local Executive Committee. This list of subjects indicates the wide scope of the British Association—there is something for everyone who is interested in the world around him.

The forthcoming meeting of the British Association provides a chance for scientist to discuss their work with their colleagues in their own language. What is perhaps of more importance to us is the fact that it affords a unique and unrivalled opportunity for the layman to hear some of the outstanding scientists of the day speaking in language all can understand. Membership is open to all, with or without scientific or technical qualifications, and is to be recommended for all Sixth Formers, whether scientists or not. The future development of Science is of importance to each one of us.

E.K.R.

THE SENIOR SCIENCE SOCIETY

The first meeting of the Easter Term took place on Saturday, the 24th of January, and we were pleased to welcome Professor Spiers, of Leeds University, who lectured to us on "Nuclear Radiations". In his lecture he first explained the nature of nuclear radiations, then showed what they do and how they act, and finally gave some evidence of their increase since 1954. The Society heard about the effects of irradiation on the human body and was told that it was safer to go about in crowds, although each human emits 500 quanta per second.

Dr. R. G. Evans addressed the Society on 7th February, and his subject was "Medical and Scientific Problems in the relief of a concentration camp". The lecture was based upon Dr. Evans' own experiences at Belsen Camp just after the war, and he explained the layout of the camp, the nature of the diseases that were prevalent among the victims, and the methods used to overcome the difficulties and dangers that these conditions produced. It is a great credit to Dr. Evans and his colleagues that the whole of the prisoners' camp at Belsen was completely cleared in just over a month.

On 28th February, P. A. Crossley gave a lecture on subatomic particles and particle accelerators. In the lecture, Crossley dealt with each of the known particles in turn, explaining their discovery and nature, then with radiation, and finally with the construction and 23

action of some particle accelerators. These, he said, were machines for producing cosmic rays, and he described many forms ranging from the early Cockroft-Walton Accelerator, giving a maximum particle energy of 3 MeV. to the cyclotrons, some of which are capable of energies of up to 500 MeV.

At the final meeting of the term, on 14th March, we were visited by Mr. L. P. Wenham, of St. John's College, who talked on the "Applications of Science to Archaeology". Confining his talk to his own excavations, Mr. Wenham showed how it had been necessary to call upon specialists to elucidate difficult technical points in the objects he found, and how the scientist had been able to add materially to what had been found by the archaeologist. Mr. Wenham brought with him many lantern slides and specimens, and was able to tell us of many interesting discoveries made at York excavations.

Throughout the year, the Society has been fortunate in having no fewer than five visiting speakers for its nine meetings, and we extend our warm thanks to them for giving their time so willingly. The high standard of attendance at all the meetings is a measure of the success of the Society. D.N.L.B.

THE JUNIOR SCIENCE SOCIETY

Four meetings were held this term. The first lecture was given by Mr. Craine and was entitled "Cinematography". He explained how a cine-camera works, and showed several films, some of which he had made himself. The Society was especially interested in some trick shots of a speeded up sunset and cloud formation.

The second lecture of the term was given by D C. Shubrook, who called it "The Phenomena of Electricity". Several high voltage phenomena were shown, by means of experiments with the Wimshurst machine, the induction coil, and the Tesla coil, the latter being extremely fascinating, as it emitted a blue brush discharge, when operated in the dark.

S. K. D. Hill and A. S. Brining gave the third lecture, the former on the history of the Gramophone record, and the latter on Hi-Fi. Hill showed us records of various ages, ranging from the most ancient to the very latest and also played recordings of artists such as Harry Lauder and Lonnie Donegan. Brining then spoke on Hi-Fi, and explained the uses of "tweeters", "woofers", and co-axial cable.

Finally, M. J. Poynor lectured on oil fired central heating. He explained how the boilers work, and showed us some slides and a film of a boiler being installed.

After the final meeting Mr. Craine thanked the committee members for their work in the 1958-59 season.