Science Collections
Collections relating to teaching cover a wide range of subjects. The anatomy and pathology collections, to which access is restricted, include specimens, equipment and documentary material relating to the teaching of medicine. The geological collections are the largest in the University, including tens of thousands of fossils, rocks and minerals from all over the world.
The large collections of historic scientific instruments housed in the Physical Sciences building contain equipment used in the teaching of natural philosophy, physics and astronomy. They include some extremely fine and important instruments from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
The collections of the School of Chemistry include sugar samples and material relating to the teaching of chemistry. A collection of scientific instruments represents the teaching of psychology.
Physics and Astronomy
Historic Scientific Instruments
This is an extraordinarily high quality collection. It includes many unique items, like the Planospheric astrolabe (1575) and the Universal Instrument (1582) by Humphrey Cole. The model beam engine on the right was used to teach Natural Philosophy in the 19th century.
Gregory and Napier
On the left is a statuette of John Napier of Merchiston (1550-1617). A student at St Andrews in 1564, Napier's invention of logarithmic tables marked the greatest advance in mathematics for centuries.
This type of reflecting telescope was invented by James Gregory, Professor of Mathematics at St Andrews (1668-1674). Gregory attempted to establish an observatory in the University.
Sir David Brewster
Sir David Brewster was Principal of the United College in St Andrews from 1838 to 1859. Brewster was one of the greatest scientists associated with St Andrews. He was the driving force behind the earliest experiments in photography in Scotland. He was also a prolific inventor. One of his inventions was the kaleidoscope. This example was made by Dolland in London, about 1850
Chemistry
Early teaching
The first Professor of Chemistry at St Andrews was not appointed until 1840, but the subject was taught from 1811 by Dr Robert Briggs, the Professor of Medicine. Facilities for teaching chemistry were rudimentary, but some famous chemists emerged from the ranks of St Andrews students in the 19th century.
Principal Irvine
Teaching and research in chemistry made huge advances in St Andrews in the 20th century. It began with the establishment of the world renowned carbohydrate research school under Professor Purdie (1884-1909) and his former student and successor, James Colquhoun Irvine (Professor, 1909-20). Illustrated right are some of the 900 sugar derivatives produced by him. Irvine later became Principal of the University.
Treasures
The collections in storage include some 22 pieces of late 18th Century glassware and a balance dated to 1750, by George Adam, Royal Instrument maker. A large collection of early alchemical books is held by the University Library. The photograph on the left shows the Chemistry museum about 1910.
Anatomy & Pathology
Engravings
The University's Bull of Foundation allowed for a Faculty of Medicine, but for a long time there was little medical instruction at St Andrews. Instead, the main activity of the Professors was the operation of the system by which medical degrees were awarded on the basis of references. This Collection contains objects and archives which represent these changing methods in teaching for the past 500 years.
Medical and Surgical Instruments
The detailed analysis of this subject is well represented through archival material and models. The skill of the profession is also displyed through surgical instruments. Shown opposite is a display on the history of the hip replacement.
Teaching collection
Teaching materials range from engravings of 18th century dissections to wax & latex models, to X Rays and CAT Scans. There are also skeletal and preserved remains which are used in teaching, but not generally available for public viewing.
Psychology
History
The Department of Psychology was established at St Andrews in 1969,but the subject was taught here in the 19th century as part of Logic and Metaphysics. The subject studied then was 'Psychophysics' which meant trying to explain the human senses by comparing various stimuli. Many of the instruments in the collection date from this period.
Sir David Brewster
Sir David Brewster (Principal of the United College 1838-59) pioneered the stereoscope. This Taxiphote is an early French version of the instrument, used to explain how the eyes work together by comparing various stimuli.
Geology
History
This collection records the history of geological teaching and research at the University. Some of the specimens came from the museum of the Literary and Philosophical Society of St Andrews in the 19th century.
Dura Den Fossil Fish
Matthew Forster Heddle, Professor of Chemistry 1862-84, was a great collector of Scottish minerals and was one of the excavators of the Dura Den fossil fish. These fossils are key treasures of both the Geology and Natural History Collections.
Teaching Collection
The collection is now primarily used for research and departmental teaching. Most prominent are the collections acquired through multi-disciplinary research on the Caledonian and Hercynian orogens, Tertiary North Atlantic igneous suites and African 'granites'.
