Royal College of Science for Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Royal College of Science for Ireland was created as a result of a decision of HM Treasury
in 1865 to merge a number of science-oriented education bodies including the Museum of Irish Industry and Government School of Science applied to Mining and the Arts. It was originally based at 51 St. Stephen's Green
but moved in the early twentieth century to a new building, the Royal College of Science
in Merrion Street
, designed by Sir Aston Webb
, who also designed the new facade for Buckingham Palace
.
The creation of the RCSI resulted from a report in 1864 of a Parliamentary Select Committee, which had recommended that a College of Science should be founded for Ireland. The Rosse Commission of 1866 outlined the scope and functions of the proposed college.
On 11 September 1867 its mission statement was outlined as
Its role was later extended to include “Mining, Engineering, and Manufactures, and in Physics and Natural Science” (RCSI Directory…for the Session 1898–99, RCSI/254). The RCSI had chairs of Mining and Mineralogy, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, Geology, Applied Mathematics and Mechanism, Descriptive Geometry and Engineering.
In 1926 the RCSI was absorbed into University College Dublin
(UCD), where it became the UCD Science and Engineering faculties. In 1964 the Physics Department of the Science Faculty became the first in UCD to move from its Earlsfort Terrace location to the new campus in Belfield. The Engineering School comprising the Departments of Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering remained in Merrion Street until its move to the Belfield campus in 1989.
Its former headquarters in Merrion Street is now part of the Irish Government Buildings
.
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
in 1865 to merge a number of science-oriented education bodies including the Museum of Irish Industry and Government School of Science applied to Mining and the Arts. It was originally based at 51 St. Stephen's Green
St. Stephen's Green
St Stephen's Green is a city centre public park in Dublin, Ireland. The park is adjacent to one of Dublin's main shopping streets, Grafton Street, and to a shopping centre named for it, while on its surrounding streets are the offices of a number of public bodies and the city terminus of one of...
but moved in the early twentieth century to a new building, the Royal College of Science
Government Buildings
Government Buildings is a large Edwardian building enclosing a quadrangle on Merrion Street in Dublin, Ireland, in which several key offices of the government of Ireland are located...
in Merrion Street
Merrion Street
Merrion Street is a major Georgian street on the southside of Dublin, Ireland which runs along one side of Merrion Square. The garden entrance of Leinster House is located on the street, as is Irish Government Buildings, formerly the Royal College of Science for Ireland...
, designed by Sir Aston Webb
Aston Webb
Sir Aston Webb, RA, FRIBA was an English architect, active in the late 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century...
, who also designed the new facade for Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
On 11 September 1867 its mission statement was outlined as
- “The object of the Royal College of Science is to supply as far as practicable a Complete Course of instruction in Science applicable to the Industrial Arts, especially those which may be classed broadly under the heads of Mining, Agriculture, Engineering, and Manufactures, and to aid in the instruction of Teachers for the local Schools of Science”
Its role was later extended to include “Mining, Engineering, and Manufactures, and in Physics and Natural Science” (RCSI Directory…for the Session 1898–99, RCSI/254). The RCSI had chairs of Mining and Mineralogy, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, Geology, Applied Mathematics and Mechanism, Descriptive Geometry and Engineering.
In 1926 the RCSI was absorbed into University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD), where it became the UCD Science and Engineering faculties. In 1964 the Physics Department of the Science Faculty became the first in UCD to move from its Earlsfort Terrace location to the new campus in Belfield. The Engineering School comprising the Departments of Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering remained in Merrion Street until its move to the Belfield campus in 1989.
Its former headquarters in Merrion Street is now part of the Irish Government Buildings
Government Buildings
Government Buildings is a large Edwardian building enclosing a quadrangle on Merrion Street in Dublin, Ireland, in which several key offices of the government of Ireland are located...
.
Sources
- The College of Science for Ireland: Its Origin and Development, with Notes on Similar Institutions in Other Countries, and a Bibliography of the Work Published by the Staff and Students (1900–1923) (Dublin: The University Press for the College of Science Association, 1923)
- Shane McCorristine. ‘Science and Nation: The Promotion of Science Education in Post-Famine Ireland’, Dublin Review of Books, 12, (2009).http://www.drb.ie/more_details/09-11-12/Science_and_Nation.aspx
- Shane McCorristine. 'IVRLA Research Report: Reconstructing Irish Science; The Library of the Royal College of Science (1867-1926)’, Research_Online@UCD (2010): 1-16.