Unheralded Engineering Achievements in the 19th Century

This talk starts with a brief introduction into the first and second Industrial Revolutions showing the phenomenal growth of engineering during the 19th century in Scotland.
The works of some unheralded engineers and mathematicians are explored in answers to questions such as: did Marconi invent radio or was it a Scotsman? Who invented the electric clock, gas lighting, the steam hammer and pile driver, a chemical telegraph, the facsimile machine, a steam-driven road carriage, the first electric locomotive and the steam ship? In mathematics – who invented statistical graphics – the pie and bar charts?
In universities who, suffering opposition, successfully kick-started the subject of Engineering Science and Thermodynamics and in conclusion: why were Scottish Universities so backward in teaching engineering for so long?

Speaker – Dr David Dick OBE PhD

David Dick became a Student member of the IEE in June 1948, a Graduate Member in November 1952 and a Fellow in March 1970. He was also a Fellow of the IERE, a Council Member and Chairman of its Scottish Committee.
Having studied hydro-power design at Imperial College, London he assisted in the commissioning of hydro-power plant in Scotland during the early 1950s and entered academia in 1955 to become Vice Principal of Napier College of Science and Technology in 1965 then Principal of Stevenson College Edinburgh in 1970. He was chairman of several committees of the Scottish Councils for Technical and Business Education and Chairman of the Fire Services Examinations Board for Scotland. He was also appointed the Lay Inspector of Fire Services, Scotland. He is currently chairman of the South East of Scotland Retired Members Committee.
He has published six books and over three dozen journal articles. After retirement in 1988 he studied history with special reference to Scottish Higher Education gaining a PhD in 2013.

PLEASE NOTE:- Edinburgh Napier University has recently introduced changes to parking arrangements at its Craiglockhart Campus including penalties for unauthorised parking. See website for details