Sir Basil Schonland, C.B.E., F.R.S., 1896-1972, was born in Grahamstown, attended St Andrew’s Preparatory School and St Andrew’s College where he matriculated at the age of 14 and was placed first in the Cape Colony. He furthered his studies at Rhodes University College and then Cambridge University.
Other biographical details:
Doctor of Science (Cambridge University);
Fellow of the Royal Society;
Director of the Bernard Price Institute;
First Chancellor of Rhodes and Fort Hare Universities;
First President of the S.A. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research;
Director of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, England;
Knighted in 1960 for his service to British science;
He laid the foundation stone of the Spencer Chapman building;
South Africa’s Scientist of the century in 1999.
The Schonland Lecture Theatre was named in honour of this famous Old Andrean scientist. In 2006 the theatre was revamped to include state-of-the-art equipment and now in air-conditioned comfort, classes and lectures can be conducted using the interactive board in conjunction with other electronic and computer facilities.
In 2006 the first in the Schonland Lecture Series was presented by Mr Aidan Smith, head of the Science Department. He had recognised that among the staff there were many whose academic interests went far beyond the demands of the classroom and this series offers a means of sharing these interests publicly.
Some previous lectures include:
Lecture #19 Deon Boshoff Ironman and other mythical superheroes (28/9/2011)
Lecture # 18 Xan Atkins Iconic photos of the 20th Century (26/5/2011)
Xan Atkins presentation
Lecture #17 Matt Sabine A long road and an old bike. (4/3/2010)
Lecture #16 David Wright "Multi-Day Racing: That just sounds silly"
Lecture #15 Tibby Bennett "A Selection of 19th Century Children's Book Illustrators"
Lecture #14 Christa Snyman "Ons is nie almal so nie!: The image of the Afrikaaner as presented by the media and literature"
Lecture #13 Tim Barnard "House and Home and the things we like"
Lecture #12 Andrew Renard Teacher? Master? Stereotype? Film Directors and a Philosophy of Education (18/09/2008)
Lecture #11 Cameron Mackenzie Soul Creation (09/07/2008)
Lecture #10 Duncan Samson Analyse that? Visualise this! A Pictorial Perambulation through Pattern, Pedantry and Principled Pedagogy (15/05/2008)
Lecture #9 Ann Smailes Chasing Butterflies…Engaging Adolescent Readers (24/04/2008)
Lecture #8 Anne Irwin The Human Condition in War Poetry (23/10/2007)
Lecture #7 Maretha Potgieter Magic Realism in the valley of Good and Evil. (13/09/2007)
Lecture #6 Rick van Heerden Fatalists, Pleasure-Seekers and Drop-Outs: Paths to the Good Life in Ancient Philosophy. (17/05/2007)
Lecture #5 Linda Schwartz Who Speaks for Whom? Unpacking Oral History of Grahamstown women. (13/02/2007)
Lecture #4 Tim Nuttall Seeking Synergy: the Educational Worlds of SAC-DSG. (08/11/2006)
Lecture #3 Lynette Paterson Thank God it’s Saturday: Reading a post-9/11 novel. (05/10/2006)
Lecture #2 David Wylde The World is Flat. (19/07/2006)
Lecture #1 Aidan Smith Understanding Quantum Society. (8/06/2006)
Missing Helen8th May 2012
"Missing Helen" will be St Andrew's College and DSG's Dance 2012 Production. Updates on the preparation and production will be posted here.
Ireland Debating Tour4th May 2012
13 College Debaters participated in the St Andrew's Ireland Model United Nations competition in Dublin.
