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History and science collided at the University of Virginia on Friday, when the school announced the discovery of a hidden chemistry lab amid ongoing renovations of its historic Rotunda building.
The room offers a glimpse into the way science was taught in the mid-19th century, as well as to the role of Thomas Jefferson – who founded the university in 1819 – in facilitating the shift from religion to science as a central principle of higher education in the United States.
"It really is the beginning of the teaching of science" as fundamental, said Jody Lahendro, a supervisory historic preservation architect for UVA. "The Enlightenment, changing the viewpoint of the world."
[...] "This may be the oldest intact example of early chemical education in this country," said Brian Hogg, senior historic preservation planner in the Office of the Architect for the University.
(Score: 3, Funny) by BananaPhone on Thursday October 22 2015, @02:59PM
It shows that science was feared and had to be practiced in secret.
And with the way laws are going in the US (and its puppet countries), we will need more secret labs, again.
Not all secret labs make bombs/drugs as this discovery shows.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday October 22 2015, @05:25PM
It shows that science was feared and had to be practiced in secret.
Not at all. If you read the actual press release [virginia.edu], you will see that the chemistry lab was merely moved to a better location.
The chemical hearth may have been closed up in the wall in the mid-1840s when the chemistry laboratory was moved to the southwest wing of the Rotunda.
An annex was added to the north side of the Rotunda Annex in the early 1850s, containing four stories of classroom, laboratory and performance space. The chemistry lab was moved to the ground floor and operated there until the annex burned in the 1895 fire.
The Department of Chemistry now occupies its own building on McCormick Road, with modern lab facilities. But the Rotunda’s hearth provides an important link to the University’s history, highlighting the importance Jefferson placed on studying the natural sciences.
“The hearth is significant as something of the University’s early academic years,” said Mark Kutney, an architectural conservator in the University Architect’s office. “The original arch above the opening will have to be reconstructed, but we hope to present the remainder of the hearth as essentially unrestored, preserving its evidence of use.”
Once the renovations are completed, the chemical hearth will remain on display. Kutney said a barrier will keep people from entering the alcove, but everything in the chemical hearth should be visible.]
See? No fancy drama. They just moved the lab somewhere else and forgot about a bit of the old lab which they had walled in.