从科学慈善机构、科学会所到中上阶级的科学学院——英国皇家学院的早期历史研究(1799-1810)

英国皇家学院在创办初期经历了两次大的变动,1802年从面向下层民众的科学慈善机构蜕变为上流社会的科学会所,随即又于1810年转变为面向中上阶级的科学学院。1810年的改革之后,民主的会员制取代了世袭的业主制。自此,皇家学院的体制稳定持续了近两个世纪。大讲堂、图书馆和实验室是皇家学院的主要活动场所,接纳女性听众和开放实验室是皇家学院在当时的两项创举。伦福德伯爵、伯纳德爵士、班克斯爵士和戴维爵士在皇家学院的创办初期发挥了重要作用。戴维推动了皇家学院从科学普及向科学研究与科学普及并重的转变,最终法拉第确立了科学研究与科学普及作为皇家学院的两大主要任务。

The Changes of the Royal Institution of Great Britain in Its Early Years

In the early years of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, it transformed from scientific philanthropy to "sublimeMechanics Institute". By an Act of Parliament in 1810, the hereditary proprietorship was replaced by the democratic membership.There were three important places for activities in RI: the Lecture Theatre, the Laboratory and the Library. RI brought in two newpolicies: to accept female audience and to open laboratories to the public. Count Rumford, Sir Joseph Banks and Sir Thomas Bernardmade notable contributions to the foundation and development of RI. Sir Humphry Davy established scientific research as a crucialfeature of RI, and Michael Faraday made RI formally adopt research as one of its activities.