Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851

Abstract

AT the 148th meeting of the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, held on May 6, the Princess Royal was elected president of the Royal Commission in succession to the late Duke of Kent. In his survey of the work of the Board of Management during the period immediately before and after the outbreak of war, Lord Macmillan gave reasons for the partial suspension of the scholarship schemes in 1939, when no fresh awards were made although existing scholarships were continued until their holders were absorbed in the national war effort. So great was the demand for the Commission's experienced research workers and engineering students that by the end of 1940 practically all these men and women had relinquished their awards to take up appointments in the technical branches of the services or in special work for the war industries. Referring to the scientific research awards of the Commission, Lord Macmillan emphasized that the scholarship scheme has produced many of the most eminent men of science in academic, industrial and professional life, including sixty-six fellows of the Royal Society and no less than six Nobel laureates. The Commission's industrial bursary scheme has also been very successful and has helped to place in industry more than six hundred graduates who could not depend on their parents for financial support after their university scholarships came to an end. Sir Robert Robinson described the work of the Science Scholarships Committee. Since 1922, when the earlier scheme was revised, 90 senior students and 149 overseas scholars from the Dominions have been appointed. The value of the material derived from the Dominions has been more than gratifying. Their records as a whole show that they are using the knowledge and experience gained as scholars to very great advantage in the scientific service of the Commonwealth.