/oss/taxonomy/term/4234/all en /oss/article/history/celebrating-christmas-science <p>The Royal Institution was founded in 1800 by leading British scientists under the guidance of Benjamin Thompson “for diffusing the knowledge and facilitating the general introduction of useful mechanical inventions and improvements, and for teaching by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments the application of sciences to the common purposes of life.” Thompson, perhaps better known as Count Rumford, was by all accounts a ruthless, arrogant, cunning, devious, unprincipled womanizer who was also a philanthropist and a clever scientist.</p> Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:12:22 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8049 at /oss