Time and Location: 6:00PM, Thursday 29th February - Mott Lecture Theatre
Title: 'This Splendid Laboratory'
Lecturer: Dr Brian Pollard
Abstract:
I will present an outline of the history of Physics in Bristol, first in the College, then in the University, illustrated with photos and documents from our archives. I describe some of the key events, in particular how Arthur Tyndall's need for a bigger battery room led H. H. Wills to endow the 1927 building – 'This Splendid Laboratory' in the words of Ernest Rutherford, which made Bristol one of the leading centres for physics in England. I will tell you about some notable members of the Department [now School]: academic and non-academic staff and students and their contributions.
Bio:
Dr Brian Pollard came to Bristol as Lecturer in Theoretical Physics in 1966 and stayed here until his retirement in 1997. He worked in particle physics, in particular on particle symmetries and topological field theories. For many years his administrative duties included running all the physics examinations when that was a departmental responsibility. After retirement, he developed an interest in the history of the Department and he has acted as Departmental/School archivist.