The Thomsons of Belfast: mathematics, engineering and invention in the family of Lord Kelvin

This is a joint meeting organised by the BSHM and the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society (www.belfastsociety.com) in association with the Northern Ireland Science Festival (www.nisciencefestival.com).

William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) was  one of the most famous natural philosophers of the Victorian age, making significant contributions in the areas of thermodynamics and  electricity and magnetism, as well as developing  numerous technological applications (most significant being his work on the laying of the transatlantic telegraph cable).

Born in Belfast, William was not the only member of his family to contribute to the knowledge and progress of his age. His older brother James, who was Professor of Engineering at Queen’s College Belfast before joining William at Glasgow University, did significant work on improving the efficiency of water turbines and pumps. Further, William’s father, James Thomson Snr., taught mathematics at the Belfast Academical Institution before moving to Glasgow to the Chair of Mathematics, and during his career wrote a number of popular textbooks on mathematics.

2:20 Jim Bennett (Oxford):  Welcome and introduction 

2:30 Mark McCartney (Ulster): James Thomson Snr: The Industrious Mathematical Educator.

3:00 Andrew Whitaker (QUB): James Thomson Jnr: A Victorian Engineer.

3:30 Crosbie Smith (Kent): Lord Kelvin: The Irish Dimensions

4:30 Event ends

Booking for this event is available via the NI Science Festival site at http://www.nisciencefestival.com/event.php?e=462