De schei- en natuurkunde aan de Utrechtse universiteit in de negentiende eeuw

Abstract

Chemistry and physics at Utrecht University in the nineteenth century After the Napoleonic period a separate faculty of mathematics and natural science was established at the Dutch universities (1815). However, as the professional prospects for mathematicians, physicists, chemists, biologists, and geologists were far from brilliant, the number of students in this faculty remained fairly small. This situation did not alter until 1863, when a new type of secondary school increased career opportunities, especially for chemists. The professors in the faculty of mathematics and natural science also lectured to medicine students, who were obliged to take the candidate examination in this faculty before they could think of examinations in the faculty of medicine. Physics was lectured at a high level by Gerrit Moll (1785-1838) and Richard van Rees (1795-1875); chemistry by Gerrit Jan Mulder (1802-1880). The latter was — from a scientific point of view as well as by his talents as an organizer — the most important and the most interesting person in nineteenth century Utrecht. He started a new kind of chemical education, in which practice was a first priority.