Abstract
AT the kind invitation of the Vice-Chancellor of the University, the annual meeting of the Science Masters' Association was held at Oxford on Jan. 4–7. The membership of the Association has grown rapidly in the last few years, and at this, the twenty-seventh, annual meeting, some 450 members were present out of a total of 1200. Formal proceedings opened on Tuesday evening, when Brig.General H. Hartley delivered his presidential address in the large hall of the City of Oxford School. Choosing as his subject the rise and development of the ionic theory, the president gave a masterly survey of both the fundamental work and recent advances, pointing out the way in which the difficulties presented by strong electrolytes are being overcome. To the evident relief of his audience, General Hartley said that practically no change was necessary in the method of teaching elementary work on the theory. On the motion of Sir Richard Gregory, seconded by Mr. H. A. Wootton, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the president for his address, but much to the disappointment of the Association Prof. H. E. Armstrong, who was present, could not be prevailed upon to speak. On succeeding days, lectures on various scientific subjects were given by members of the University of Oxford and others, two of the most attractive being that of Prof. E. B. Poulton upon “Protective Mimicry in Insects” and that of Prof. H. H. Turner upon “Eclipses” with special reference to the forthcoming total solar eclipse visible in England. Prof. Poulton's lecture, to judge from the applause it evbked, met with warm appreciation. It was admirably conceived and delivered, and was illustrated with a large number of exquisite lantern slides. We believe it should have been of the greatest value to science teachers, in that it showed how natural history may be made to afford a sound training in scientific method in an extremely attractive way.
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The Science Masters' Association. Nature 119, 102–103 (1927). https://doi.org/10.1038/119102a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/119102a0