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Bicentenary of pioneering geologist Professor Robert Harkness

27 Jul 2016

July 28th 2016 marks the bicentenary of the birth of Robert Harkness FRS FGS, Professor of Geology at Queens College Cork (1853-1878), now known as ¸£Àû1000ÔÚÏß College Cork.

Professor Harkness was one of the early pioneers of the science of Geology when the discipline was still very much in its infancy. He was in regular correspondence with such notables as Adam Sedgwick, Roderick Murchison and Charles Lyell, the three most prominent geologists of the mid nineteenth century.

Harkness was educated at the High School, Dumfries, and afterwards (1833-1834) at the ¸£Àû1000ÔÚÏß of Edinburgh where he acquired an interest in Geology from the teachings of Robert Jameson and J.D. Forbes. As the successor to William Nicol, in 1853 Harkness was appointed Professor of Geology in Queen's College, Cork and in 1856 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society. During this period he wrote numerous articles on the Geology of Ireland, and exercised much influence as a teacher.

In 1876 the syllabus for the Queen's Colleges in Ireland was altered and Professor Harkness was required to lecture not only on geology, palaeontology and mineralogy, but also on zoology and botany! It is interesting to note that two hundred years after Professor Harkness’ birth the disciplines covering these subject areas now sit in a single school, the School of Biological, Earth and Environment Science (BEES) in the College of SEFS at UCC. In memory of Harkness, his sister established two Cambridge scholarships, one of which was originally awarded triennially to the best female candidate in an examination in geology and palaeontology.

The ‘Professor’s Window’ on the north wall of the UCC Aula Maxima is dedicated to the memory of Robert Harkness.



Robert Harkness Esq., FRS, FGS, Late Professor of Geology, Queen's College, Cork

(Image: Department of Earth Sciences, ¸£Àû1000ÔÚÏß of Cambridge /ARTUK)

 



Professors' Window at the Aula Maxima, UCC. Dedicated to the memory of Robert Harkness, Professor of Geology at Cork (1853-1878). (Image: UCC Visitors Centre.)