Use the information when doing the assignments that follow

Read the text for the information on a scientific institution in England.

Use the information when doing the assignments that follow

Imperial College, London

The Imperial College of Science and Technology is one of the oldest and most

important scientific institutes in England. It now forms part of the University of

London, and fulfils the dual purpose of teaching students and fostering research in

science and technology.

Imperial College began as the Royal College of Science in the middle of the

nineteenth century, when it was realized that teaching and pursuing science and its

applications was necessary to fully carry out the industrial revolution and keep

Britain in the forepost of technological advance. Many famous scientists were

associated with the early days of the College, for example Huxley and Wells. Prince Albert, the royal patron, also closely followed scientific work at the College. With the addition of the City and Guilds Institute and the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College acquired large engineering facilities in addition to those for pure scientific research.

Today the main departments are: Physics (of which Professor Blockett is well

known), Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering,

Aeronautics, Mining Technology, Chemistry and Mathematics. A large new

department is the Biochemical Department, headed by Professor Chain.

Imperial College is fortunate in having several new building with many

excellent laboratories, and more are being built. A Computer Section develops the

facilities of computers for the use at all departments. The College also has facilities

outside London in a biological field station and a mining research station.

At the present time about 2000 students are studying at Imperial College for

their first degree. There are also about 1000 research students, working for higher

degrees and participating in the research work of the College. A large proportion of

them are overseas students from many different countries. There is much excellent

research work undertaken at Imperial College in a wide range of subjects. Now

research groups include one working on traffic problems, an operational research

group, and a history of science department.

Imperial College is still growing in size and numbers, and as an almost

independent institution it rivals many other colleges of London University put

together. It is possible that it will be associated with other institutes nearly, the Royal Schools of art and Music, to develop into a separate University. In this way it is hoped to continue to train specialized scientists and engineers in a more varied

cultural atmosphere than a university is supposed to embody.