Master watchmaker George Daniels, who is famous for inventing the co-axial escapement attended the predecessor of City University London, the Northampton Institute. To coincide with the anniversary of Daniels’s birth on 19 August, City University announced the launch of the George Daniels Educational Trust scholarships.

Through a generous donation of funds bequeathed to the George Daniels Educational Trust, City University London will award two doctoral studentships and five undergraduate scholarships to students following Electrical Engineering and Instrumentation studies in the School of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences during the 2013/14 academic year. Accommodation bursaries are also being considered to support students further.

The Trust has also granted funds toward the establishment of the George Daniels Chair in Scientific Instrumentation and the George Daniels Research Lectureship in Measurement & Instrumentation. David Newman, Chairman of the George Daniels Educational Trust and close confidant of Dr Daniels, is delighted that the renowned watchmaker’s vision to assist deserving students has been realised:

“I am pleased that the George Daniels Educational Trust has been able to administer the substantial funds bequeathed by George to provide scholarships for City’s students who will benefit considerably from education and research in measurement and instrumentation. George was passionate about enabling promising students who would otherwise face difficulties and the Trustees have worked painstakingly to ensure that this benevolent aspect of George’s legacy will come to fruition.”

Vice-Chancellor of City University London, Professor Paul Curran, says the considerable contribution of the George Daniels Educational Trust bodes well for both the University and its undergraduate and postgraduate students:

“City’s international reputation for research in measurement and instrumentation has been strengthened significantly through the munificence of the Trust in granting these funds. The legacy of George Daniels will live on through the students who will benefit from the Trust’s support.”

To celebrate the life and work of the master horologist, the inaugural George Daniels Lecture will take place at City on Wednesday 18th September.

In a lecture titled Optical Atomic Clocks - Light Years Ahead? Professor Patrick Gill from the National Physical Laboratory will look to the future of highly accurate time measurement and will address the issue of a future redefinition of the second.

The event will also see the University Clock in the College Building renamed ‘The George Daniels Clock’ in his honour.

Source: City University London