Abstract
II. A PREVIOUS article (January 13) summarised the papers and discussions at conferences of teachers with reference to the national aspect of early training in science. The number and variety of the meetings was so great that many other points of general scientific interest deserve notice. First may be placed the exhibition of scientific apparatus at the meeting of the Public School Science Masters' Association, as it marks a new era. Formerly a large proportion of the laboratory ware and appliances were of German or Austrian origin; this year, with the exception of a few balances from Rotterdam, all the exhibits were British. Naturally, the size of the display was reduced, but there was no falling off in quality. So far as visual and handling tests can be trusted, the goods shown were of a high grade of material and workmanship. There was a large selection of electrical apparatus, mostly measuring instruments, suitable to all grades of teaching, from the most elementary forms of magnetometers or electroscopes to the elaborate potentiometer sets. Messrs. Philip Harris, F. E. Becker and Co., Gallen-kamp and Co., and Gambrell Bros, all contributed to this section. Messrs. Baird and Tatlock (London) made a special feature of laboratory glassware, and a number of science masters paid a visit to their works at Walthamstow. Messrs. Philip Harris exhibited lamp-blown glass apparatus suitable for volumetric and research work, also moderately-priced strong instruments suitable for field-work in physical geography and meteorology. Balances were also a strong feature in the exhibits of the above-mentioned firms, and of Messrs. Townson and Mercer, the last-mentioned providing a good variety of glass apparatus. It was satisfactory to observe that those essentials, best quality porcelain and filter papers, have not been neglected. There is evidence that the efforts of the British Science Guild have stimulated the manufacturers; without doubt the guild, by bringing before the Government the fundamental importance of the supply of scientific apparatus, has done a great service to science teaching. It is inevitable that prices should be advanced, and doubtless there will be some shortage in the supplies here and there; but it is a matter for congratulation that the main requirements are being so well met by British firms under conditions of exceptional difficulty.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DANIELL, G. Science at Educational Conferences . Nature 96, 576–577 (1916). https://doi.org/10.1038/096576b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/096576b0