ROYAL SOCIETY GRANTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2143, 8 May 1914, Page 8

ROYAL SOCIETY GRANTS

■ ——r* ! TO VICTORIA COLLEGE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT. The Royal Society of London lias mado two grants from the fund which it administers for tlio British Goverripieht to assist . investigations - in tho Physics Department of Victoria College. A grant of £15 is made/towards the' expenses of an investigation by Messis. E. Ilowntree, L. Bastings, 8.A., and Professor Laby of: (a) Tho total ionization, produced by/ alpha rays in gases, 1 nmb(b) atomic stopping and scattering power of elements. A second grant of £20 towards the expenses of an investigation of tho thermal properties of gases by E. 0. Hercus, M.Sc;, and Professor Laby. Mr. Hercus, who was recently nominated to tho-science research scholarship ,of tho .Exhibition of 1851, graduated with honours, in physics and niathe•matios at Otago University in' 1912.' His university'record is a brilliant one, as in 1911 lie gained three senior university scholarships—two in mathematics and ono in physics. In 1912 ho came to Victoria College for post-graduate work in physics. Ho was awarded a Government research scholarship to continuo on investigation of the thermal conductivity of gases which had been begun ■ l>y Mr. M. Alexander, M.Sc. A knowledge of tho heat conductivity of gases is of considerable importance to physics and in industries such as the freezing industry. Nevertheless tlio subject has not recently received very much attention, partly, possibly, on account of tlio experimental difficulties that have to bo overcome. ! . # , Tho thesis on this subject sent in by Mr. Hercus gained a high opinion from Dr. Watson, F.R.S., and Professor Calendar, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.