About robert boyle
Who was robert boyle?
It has been said that Robert Boyle, the ‘Father of Modern Chemistry’, was the most important scientist ever born in Ireland. In fact it has been argued that of all historical figures born in Ireland he had the greatest impact on the course of human history. (See Article by David McWilliams here)
Robert Boyle was born in Lismore Castle on 25th January 1627. He was the youngest- and favourite- son of the “Great Earl of Corke”, Richard Boyle and his second wife Catherine Fenton. Robert spent his early childhood at Lismore before being sent to Eton at the age of 8. At 11 he was taken out of school and tutored at the great earl’s new English base, Stalbridge House and shortly after dispatched on a Grand Tour of Europe with his older brother (Francis, aged 15) and his tutor before returning to England and devoting his life to writing and scientific research.
In 1655 Boyle moved to Oxford where he joined the Invisible College – a group of natural philosophers that foreshadowed the Royal Society that was founded in 1660. About this time Boyle employed Robert Hooke to help him with his experiments. Together they built the air-pump used in many of Boyle’s most important experiments including the establishing the necessity of air for combustion, for animal breathing, and for the transmission of sound. Boyle also proved the inverse relationship between the volume of a gas and its pressure enshrined in science textbooks across the world as Boyle’s Law.
Robert Boyle was a prolific writer on theology, philosophy as well as the new science. His publications included New Experiments Physio-Mechanical, Touching the Spring of the Air and its Effects (1660) and his most famous- The Sceptical Chymist (1661). Boyle’s Law first appears in the 2nd edition of New Experiments Physio-Mechanical, Touching the Spring of the Air and its Effects in 1662, Boyle argued that science could and should bring material benefits to mankind and expounded this in his 1663 book “Some Considerations Touching the Usefulness of Experimental Natural Philosophy”.
About the schools
Ireland has a wonderful tradition of annual summer schools where adults can come together in a sociable environment to engage with culture, conversation and ideas. There are long established ones such as the Merriman Summer School in Clare, founded in 1968 to celebrate the poet Brian Merriman and Irish culture and language of Thomand. The Willie Clancy Summer School, established in the 1970s, celebrates the piper Willie Clancy and traditional music. The MacGill Summer School dates from the 1980s and celebrates the writer Patrick MacGill and explores social, economic and political issues. There are many more excellent events celebrating aspects of culture and famous Irish people, but there was no science!
For many years, the CALMAST team in Waterford had been promoting the legacy of Waterford-born Robert Boyle (1627-1691), one of the most influential founders of experimental science. Believing that science is an important part of our culture and one that is not widely recognised as such in Ireland, Calmast decided to establish a science themed cultural summer school.
The first summer school ran in 2012 in the heritage town of Lismore and includes talks, discussions and social events. The annual Robert Summer School in Waterford is celebrating his life and legacy and considering the place of science and technology in our society and culture. In 2018 the complementary Robert Boyle Winter School was established in Dublin. The audience is generally comprised equally people with a science background and people without.
The separation of science and (other areas of) culture is not unique to Ireland and perhaps different countries have different expressions of this phenomenon. Sixty-five years ago (7 May 1959) C.P. Snow claimed that a division existed between science and the arts that was a dangerous threat to Western society. In his Rede lecture “The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution” he claims some authority as a novelist and scientist but the argument is strongly pro-science. The work is admittedly flawed and of its time, but has been very influential. Ultimately he argues that it would be mutually beneficial to both camps to build bridges between the disciplines. As Snow’s lecture reaches the age of 65 on the week we will take this as a cue for RBSS 2024. So as not to spread our attention too thinly we will focus on art and largely on visual art.
Unfortunately, our patron Michael D Higgins, the President of Ireland, was unable to attend the 9th Robert Boyle Summer School in 2021. However, he left us a message, which you can read by clicking on the image on the right.
Michael D Higgins is no longer the patron of the school.
The two schools are organised by CALMAST at South East Technological University and Lismore Heritage Centre with support of Lismore Castle, the Robert Boyle Foundation, interested groups and professional bodies and industry in the region.
This site is managed by CALMAST, the STEM Engagement Centre at South East Technological University (SETU).