THE pioneering work of James Watt will be celebrated by the University of Glasgow 200 years on from the engineer’s death.
This year also marks the 250th anniversary of Watt’s steam engine patent, credited with kick-starting the industrial revolution.
Greenock-born Watt undertook the work while a mathematical instrument maker at the university. He will be remembered with an exhibition, a schools competition and a symposium for engineering researchers. Events are also planned by Heriot-Watt University and Historic Environment Scotland.
Colin McInnes, professor of engineering science and a James Watt chair at Glasgow University, said: “While Watt is best-known for his improvements to the steam engine, he was a restless inventor who developed devices including a portable document duplicator and a mechanical three-dimensional sculpture copier.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here