The Royal Institution of Great Britain

Background

The Royal Institution of Great Britain (Ri) is an independent charity, dedicated to increasing knowledge of, excitement for and involvement in science and technology for current and future generations.

For over 200 years, at the headquarters on Albemarle St, the Ri has been at the forefront of science research, innovation and communication. The Ri is where scientists such Humphrey Davy, Michael Faraday, James Dewar, William and Lawrence Bragg and George Porter discovered 10 chemical elements, won 14 Nobel Prizes, made world-changing discoveries such as the laws of electromagnetism and the foundations of molecular biology and stimulated scientific debate through public lectures and events for children. Today, the Ri, through its Davy Faraday Research Laboratory (DFRL) continues to produce cutting-edge research in the application of nanotechnology in healthcare.

Milestones
In 1821, following Hans Christian Oersted's discovery of electro-magnetism, Faraday discovered electro-magnetic rotations, the principle behind the electric motor.

Faraday spent much of his time in the late 1820s working on a project to improve optical glass for the Admiralty, so it wasn't until 1831 that he was able to return to his research on electricity. His discovery of electro-magnetic induction in 1831 commenced a remarkable decade of work. Amongst other things, he rewrote the theory of electrochemistry (coining many words still in use today such as electrode and ion) and established his laws of electrolysis. In 1836 he built the Faraday cage which showed that measurements of electric charge depended on the electrical state of the observer. This observation led Faraday to develop his theory that electricity was the result of varying magnetic forces between particles rather than a fluid as previously supposed.

The Royal Institution Collections
The Collections of the Royal Institution include the original apparatus and papers of many of those who have researched, lectured and lived in the building including Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday, John Tyndall, James Dewar, William Bragg, Lawrence Bragg and George Porter. In addition the Royal Institution has important collections of iconographical material in various media, books, scientific instruments, historic furniture as well as a large administrative archive, covering all aspects of the work of the Royal Institution.

The archive collections of the Royal Institution include the personal papers and experimental notebooks of many of the scientists who have researched, lectured and lived in the building. The major personal collections include the papers of Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday, and William and Lawrence Bragg along with smaller collections of associated individuals such as John Davy and Sir William Crookes.

Theatre
The RI began holding lectures in the theatre in the early nineteenth century and they proved so popular that all the people coming in their carriages made Albemarle Street so crowded that it became the first one way street in London.

The Christmas Lectures were initiated by Michael Faraday at a time when organised education for young people was scarce. He presented 19 series of Christmas Lectures himself, establishing an exciting new venture of teaching science to young people.

The Christmas Lectures have continued annually since the 1825 series, stopping only during World War II. Many world-famous scientists have given the lectures including Baroness Susan Greenfield, David Attenborough and George Porter and a number of renowned speakers including HG Wells, and Roger Bannister.