Chapter 520 - 247 Bosses Gather (Part 2) (6.8K)_2

Things turned out unexpectedly.

William Whewell actually recruited McCarthy to Cambridge, even assigned him to oversee the economics courses at four Divinity Schools, which undoubtedly was a bold move.

One wonders if Purim might resort to violence and confront William Whewell with an axe for some offline PK?

On the other side.

After introducing McCarthy, William Whewell began introducing other professors:

"Zarul Murray... Chief Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences..."

"Delio Atayaga... Art History Lecturer..."

"Stasia Edkins... Professor of Ancient Greek and Roman Literature..."

"Gandalf... Professor of Body Technique Defense Class..."

After McCarthy, William Whewell lavishly introduced seven or eight professors, all seemingly quite reputable.

But Xu Yun didn’t quite recognize these people.

At most, he somewhat remembered Stasia Edkins, who resembled Mrs. Weasley from "Harry Potter".

This lady was the first female professor in Cambridge’s history, but Xu Yun mainly remembered her because of her cause of death:

She was killed by a train during an outing.

Remember this.

After the 1842 Paris train accident, train speeds across Europe were reduced to over 20 kilometers per hour, only returning above 60 kilometers in 1879.

So, upon hearing this, Xu Yun struggled to understand exactly how it happened.

Soon after, he heard the name of his affordable mentor:

"Stokes... Lucas Professor of Mathematics... Doctoral Advisor of Trinity College..."

Clap clap clap—

Wheat and Xu Yun increased their applause intensity by a few notches; it’s always essential to support one’s advisor’s venue.

Aveline, on the side, frowned and muttered while looking at the waving Stokes:

"Why do you still need to study mathematics in graduate school... This subject shouldn’t even exist, right?"

Xu Yun glanced at the girl lightly, without speaking.

Joking aside.

You haven’t seen the math questions from the later generations, have you?

Especially the national exam paper of 2022, believe it or not, it’ll make you cry back to Lilani...

Just then.

William Whewell on the podium suddenly showed a solemn expression, his tone becoming unusually earnest:

"Students, as everyone knows, the scientific community in Europe is now in a rapid development era, and various practical technologies are gradually emerging in our lives."

"Such as trains and electric lights."

"To align with scientific frontiers, most universities in the United Kingdom, including the University of Cambridge, have established two emerging subjects: natural sciences and moral sciences."

"However, the selection of a chief professor for natural sciences at the University of Cambridge has always remained undecided, with other professors temporarily serving as public lecturers."

"But today I can happily inform everyone that, under the care of Prince Albert, the discipline of natural sciences has finally welcomed its first chief professor!!"

Upon hearing William Whewell’s words, Xu Yun straightened his posture.

Students who attended university in the United Kingdom 200 years ago know.

In the Europe university system dominated by classical subjects, mathematics has always been a crucial teaching content.

As for physics, chemistry, and biology, these courses were initially not emphasized and universally called natural philosophy.

For instance, besides theology, Old Da’s other elective major was this.

However, entering the 19th century.

Under the influence of political, economic, technological, and cultural factors.

The classical education tradition of British universities was strongly impacted, transitioning from classical education bastions to scientific education centers.

In 1828.

The University of Cambridge constructed an astronomical observatory at Trinity College’s front gate, costing up to 17,000 Pounds, and later expanded the buildings within the botanical garden.

Posterity has also classified these two events as milestones in the University’s Cambridge teaching transition.

By 1848.

To break the dominance of mathematics in the examination system at the University of Cambridge, the university established two scientific disciplines: natural sciences and moral sciences.

Among them, the scope of the moral sciences honors degree examination included moral philosophy, political economy, modern history, common law, United Kingdom law, etc.

Natural sciences honors degree examinations included mineralogy, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, botany, geology, and so forth.

Yes, you read it right.

Physics wasn’t included.

Physics at that time was still a subordinate subject of chemistry and would only officially become an independent discipline in 1873—suddenly, its independence was drastically influenced by the Cavendish Laboratory built by Wheat in 1871.

The significance of natural sciences versus moral sciences need not be said, but in the case of the chief professor, moral sciences are far more interesting.

The first history moral sciences professor at University of Cambridge was William Wordsworth, a very famous romantic poet.

He took office in October 1849, and after six months, he passed away.

Thus, Cambridge University hurriedly brought Tennyson to fill in, but this fellow wasn’t a worry-free person:

Tennyson was the most popular and distinctive poet of the Victorian era, no exception.

In 1850, he just happened to write "In Memoriam", this work was also recognized as the greatest elegy in British literature.

At that time, Tennyson could be described as an idol-grade figure, the degree of popularity roughly equivalent to the combined dread of the four Celestial Kings in the 90s.

Earlier mentioned, University of Cambridge has no walls in Cambridge Town; anyone interested can sneak in without difficulty.