An online exhibition which explores the life and work of one of the 20th century’s most creative and controversial scientists has been launched by St. John’s College, Cambridge.
An online exhibition which explores the life and work of one of the 20th century’s most creative and controversial scientists has been launched by St. John’s College, Cambridge.
Sir Fred Hoyle was an English astronomer who spent the majority of his working life in Cambridge, where he was Director of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy for a number of years.
The unique exhibition tells the story of his life through online exhibits from his library and personal papers, which were donated by his family after his death in 2001.
The exhibition is easy to explore, with a contents page which guides the user through each stage of Hoyle’s life. All sections are accompanied by photos, extracts from notebooks, letters and newspaper cuttings.
Highlights include a letter sent from Hoyle to his father outlining observations from his very first telescope, which he received as a present when he was a young boy. The site then follows his study of mathematics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and presents extracts from his notebooks, used while he was developing groundbreaking theories on how chemical elements are made inside stars.
The exhibition also features sections on Hoyle’s 19 works of science fiction (many written in collaboration with his son, Geoffrey), and “Hoyle In The Hills”, which is devoted to his love of walking and mountain climbing and includes his annotated maps of Scottish Munros.
The online collection has been assembled as part of the Sir Fred Hoyle Project at St John’s College Library. Project Associate and exhibition curator Katie Birkwood said: “Fred Hoyle was a man of diverse interests and broad talents. This exhibition gives everyone the opportunity to see up close some of the most significant documents from throughout his life.”
St. John’s College Library’s Special Collections are housed within the Old Library, which dates back to 1624 and is kept today as it was in the 17th century. It will be open to the public on Saturday, March 13th, as part of the Cambridge Science Festival.
To find out more and to view the online Hoyle exhibition please use the links top right of the page.
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