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67-608: The institute has prioritised sustainable development with particular reference to the environment, policy and practice as the present area of greatest need, an initiative spearheaded by Katherine Saunt, and more recently Harry Pincus . Now based in the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at the University of Westminster . PSI's current research themes include: energy and climate change; resource use and

134-417: A 20-foot steel kite into the air but had little success, finding it to be unwieldy. He reduced its size in time for the main show. The Eagle Farm event was attended by nearly 700 people. Pepper's smaller kite only managed to fly a short distance into the sky and had to be abandoned. The swivel guns were then fired, attempting to create an explosion in the sky. However, due to an overfilling of powder in one of

201-472: A Christmas Eve production of the Charles Dickens play The Haunted Man in 1862 and Dircks signed over all financial rights to Pepper. Through this the effect became known as "Pepper's ghost", much to the frustration of Dircks, and though Pepper insisted that Dircks should have a share of the credit, the technique is still named after the man who popularised it. Some reports have suggested that, at

268-483: A front page advertisement in the 30 January 1882 issue of The Brisbane Courier to publicise the event, scheduled for 4 February 1882 at the Eagle Farm Racecourse . Further advertisements mentioned that there would be "several interesting Illustrations of Atmospheric Phenomena" and gave some details about the method that he planned to employ. Pepper started his experiments in the weeks leading up to

335-421: A highly regarded science performer and often went by the name "Professor Pepper". He regularly demonstrated a range of scientific and technological innovations with the intention of entertaining and educating the audience about how they worked. He used many of these to expose the trickery behind deceptive magic, and became famous for a new technique now known as "Pepper's ghost". Liverpudlian engineer Henry Dircks

402-517: A house, now the heritage-listed Woodlands . While there Pepper continued to deliver lectures and is believed to have been the first person to formally teach chemistry in the state. ANNOUNCEMENT EXTRAORDINARY. THE GREAT SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT OF TAPPING THE CLOUDS ! OR, RAIN-MAKING ! Will be attempted on the BRISBANE RACECOURSE, ON SATURDAY NEXT, 4TH FEBRUARY, BY PROFESSOR J. H. PEPPER. To prevent overcrowding in

469-617: A mentor to Pepper, who went on to become an assistant lecturer at the Grainger School of Medicine at the age of 19. In around 1843 he was elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society . Pepper delivered his first lecture at the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1847 and went on to take the role of analytical chemist and lecturer the year after. By the early 1850s he was its director. He introduced

536-402: A month, so he took his show to Sydney. Pepper heard tales of Fred Fisher, a farmer in nearby Campbelltown who had mysteriously disappeared in 1826. A supposed sighting of Fisher's ghost sparked a legend that is still recounted today. Pepper incorporated the ghost into his shows, amazing his audiences for a while but, once again, the public desire for his shows tailed off after a month. For

603-631: A plan to turn Regent Street into a tri-partite federal college by adding a new College of Architecture and Advanced Building Technology (CAABT) and also a College of Engineering and Science (CES). The existing commercial subjects would remain centred on no 309 Regent Street. CAABT was allocated the Luxborough Lodge site in Marylebone Road and CES a site in New Cavendish Street. Both schemes suffered prolonged delays and

670-815: A schedule of live programmes during the week. Smoke Radio has won numerous awards at the Student Radio Association Awards (SRA), and recorded a record six wins in 2018. Smoke TV is the student television station of the University of Westminster. Launched in September 2011 it is run by students and targeted at students. The station produces programmes covering campus news, film reviews and sport events and showcases student productions such as short films, TV shows, documentaries and music videos. John Henry Pepper John Henry "Professor" Pepper (17 June 1821 – 25 March 1900)

737-595: A series of evening classes covering educational and trade topics, and lectured by invitation at some of the most prestigious schools across England, including Eton , Harrow , and Haileybury . Amongst the students at Eton was Quintin Hogg , who would go on to become a philanthropist and benefactor of the Royal Polytechnic Institution. Pepper also lectured in New York and Australia. Pepper became

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804-526: A time he tried his hand as playwright, producer, and actor, putting on a romantic drama called Hermes and the Alchymist . The show was poorly received and lasted only a few weeks. Over the next two years he took his show around Australia, visiting New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. After the tour he settled in Ashgrove , Brisbane , Queensland , and worked as a public analyst. There he built

871-668: Is a public university based in London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1838 as the Royal Polytechnic Institution , it was the first polytechnic to open in London. The Polytechnic formally received a Royal charter in August 1839, and became the University of Westminster in 1992 . Westminster has its main campus in Regent Street in central London , with additional campuses in Fitzrovia , Marylebone and Harrow . It also operates

938-427: Is believed to have devised a method of projecting an actor onto a stage using a sheet of glass and a clever use of lighting, calling the technique "Dircksian Phantasmagoria ". The actor would then have an ethereal, ghost-like appearance while seemingly able to perform alongside other actors. Pepper saw the concept and replicated it on a larger scale, taking out a joint patent with Dircks. Pepper debuted his creation with

1005-552: Is close to Warren Street , Great Portland Street and Goodge Street underground stations. The Harrow Campus is in a suburb, outside Central London. It is the base for Media, Arts and Design courses. It is also home to London Gallery West which exhibits a broad mix of contemporary media, art and design work. The nearest Tube station to the Harrow campus is Northwick Park on the Metropolitan line . The University of Westminster

1072-641: Is incorporated under the Companies Act as a charity and company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. It is also an exempt charity under the Charities Act 1993. The university's governing body is the Court of Governors. It meets five times per year and is ultimately responsible for the effective conduct of the activities of the university, including its strategic development, educational character and mission, and finances. The members of

1139-501: Is regarded as a significant step towards the understanding of continental drift . In 1848, a theatre was added to the building, purpose-built to accommodate the growing audiences for the Polytechnic's optical shows. These combined magic lantern images with live performances, music, ghosts and spectres, spreading the fame of what was arguably the world's first permanent projection theatre. In 1862, inventor Henry Dircks developed

1206-579: The Dircksian Phantasmagoria , where it was seen by Pepper in a booth set up by Dircks at the Polytechnic. Pepper first showed the effect during a scene of Charles Dickens's novella The Haunted Man (1848) at the Regent Street theatre to great success. However, Pepper's implementation of the effect tied his name to it permanently. Though he tried many times to give credit to Dircks, the title " Pepper's ghost " has endured. Under

1273-624: The Royal Polytechnic Institution (University of Westminster) and wrote several important science education books, one of which is regarded as a significant step towards the understanding of continental drift . While in Australia he tried unsuccessfully to make it rain using electrical conduction and large explosions. Pepper was born in Westminster , London and educated at King's College School . While there he became interested in chemistry, as taught by John Thomas Cooper . Cooper acted as

1340-777: The Westminster International University in Tashkent in Uzbekistan . The university is organised into three colleges and 12 schools, within which there are around 65 departments and centres, including the Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI) and the Centre for the Study of Democracy. It also has its Policy Studies Institute , Business School and Law School . The annual income of

1407-429: The circular economy ; mobility and transport; the role of communities and business in delivering a sustainable future; cities, innovation and sustainability transitions; public behaviours, attitudes and policy; and policy and research evaluation. From its Central London base, PSI collaborates with an international network of researchers and centres working on environment and sustainable development policy; PSI coordinates

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1474-411: The "father of aeronautical engineering", was the first chairman and the Polytechnic formally received a Royal charter in August 1839. The Polytechnic housed a large exhibition hall, lecture theatre and laboratories, and public attractions included working machines and models, scientific lectures and demonstrations, rides in a diving bell and, from 1839, demonstrations of photography. Prince Albert visited

1541-556: The 1850s. 1861's The Playbook of Metals , built upon the work of Antonio Snider-Pellegrini and is regarded as an important step in the understanding of continental drift . The books became so successful, particularly The Boy's Playbook of Science , that they could be found in secondary schools throughout the United Kingdom, and some American reprints became prescribed school texts in Pennsylvania and Brooklyn. Pepper

1608-467: The 90-year-old Policy Studies Institute . In 2002 Westminster established the Westminster International University in Tashkent at the invitation of the government of Uzbekistan . In 2013, the university celebrated 175 years of research, teaching, and providing education for all, regardless of background or financial status. Special events were organised both at campuses in the UK, and with their teams around

1675-636: The Built Environment, Westminster Business School and the Policy Studies Institute . The P3 exhibition area, a 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m ) space located in the former concrete construction hall of the School of Engineering, was opened in 2008. The Cavendish Campus is a modern glass and steel building in New Cavendish Street ( Fitzrovia ), close to the BT Tower . It houses science, engineering and computer laboratories. The campus

1742-454: The Court of Governors are the trustees of the charity. The University of Westminster is organised into three colleges and 12 schools, within which there are around 65 departments and research centres: The University is also home to the institute for Modern and Contemporary Culture, the Centre for the Study of Democracy and the Policy Studies Institute . Westminster had an income of £205.1 million for 2017–2018, of which more than £22 million

1809-512: The Education Department. The Education Department provided a wide range of courses, with a rapid expansion of commercial subjects alongside the original trade and technical classes. Courses ranged from post-elementary school entry for craft and technical training at 13 to degrees accredited by the University of London external degrees programme. Most teaching was in the evening and part-time, though day classes increased throughout

1876-593: The PCL. The PCL was re-designated as the University of Westminster following the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 , which created a single funding council, the Higher Education Funding Council , for England and abolished the remaining distinctions between polytechnics (degrees awarded nationally) and universities (degrees awarded by individual university). The newly established university

1943-401: The Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838 on the site of the present University's Regent Street campus. Cayley was an engineer and inventor and pioneer aviator, hence the wings added to the lion. The lion supports a book charged with a portcullis. The ram supporter comes from the arms of Quniton Hogg's grandson, Lord Hailsham, Lord High Chancellor. The Hogg family continued their association with

2010-638: The SDRN. PSI is politically neutral and has no connections to any political party, commercial interests or pressure groups. The institute's income is derived from a variety of sources, including government departments, research and higher education funding councils, the European Commission, charitable foundations and business. Leading researchers who have worked at the institute include Mayer Hillman , Paul Ekins and Tariq Modood . University of Westminster The University of Westminster

2077-662: The Science and Art Department (of the Board of Trade), and a scheme of technical and trade education, related to the City and Guilds of London Institute of Technical Instruction and to the London Trades Council. The building housed classrooms, a swimming bath, gymnasium, and a refreshment room. Activities included daily chapels, Parliamentary debating, a Reading Circle, music and drama societies and several sports clubs. In

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2144-460: The UK, and 18th in the UK for Architecture. The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2019, which lists the world's best under 50-year-old universities out of 351 universities, ranked Westminster 151–200 in the world. The university achieved world leading and internationally excellent status for most of their work, ranking second for Communications, Cultural and Media Studies research, 6th for Art and Design research, in addition to

2211-755: The United States who was in Washington at the time. The message took just under 10 minutes to arrive in the United States with a reply coming in after around 20 minutes. This transmission was hailed as a significant achievement for science. With wife Mary Ann (born circa 1831), Pepper had a son (born circa 1856). Between 1874 and 1879 the family toured the United States and Canada before being invited to Australia. They arrived in Melbourne on 8 July 1879 and Pepper gave his first lecture just four days later. Interest in his demonstrations began to wane after

2278-610: The University through four generations. The lion with a tilting spear comes from the Studd family arms. The Studds worked closely with Quintin Hogg and in the running of The Polytechnic. The Compartment depicts the situation of Westminster on the banks of the River Thames. Westminster offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees as well as certificates and diplomas at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. More than two thirds of Westminster's programmes are recognised by

2345-463: The appropriate professional bodies such as the BCS , BPS , CIOB , CABE , ICE , RICS , HPC etc. in recognition of the high standards of relevance to the professions. The university has numerous centres of research excellence and was ranked sixth in the UK and 40th globally for Media and Communications by QS World University Rankings 2018. The university was also ranked 15th for Art and Design in

2412-746: The auspices of the Charity Commissioners in 1891, when the Institute was reconstituted as The Polytechnic-Regent Street (often referred to as the Regent Street Polytechnic ), managed by a newly created governing body. On 21 February 1896, the first performance of a moving film ( Cinématographe ) to a paying UK audience was delivered by the Lumière brothers at the Regent Street Cinema. For this reason

2479-415: The chairmanship of Joseph Butterworth Owen , the Royal Polytechnic Institution increased its presence in formal classes for young men traditionally denied the opportunity of higher education in the United Kingdom during the nineteenth century. Expansion gradually gave way to financial difficulty, reflecting a long-standing tension between education and the need to run a successful business. A fatal accident on

2546-524: The cinema has been described as "the birthplace of British cinema". The building at 309 Regent Street was rebuilt in 1910–1912 to reflect the needs of a growing institution whose student members exceeded 15,000. Pioneering work in emerging professional and commercial disciplines, alongside general interest subjects, was the hallmark of the institution. When Hogg died in 1903, he was succeeded as President by Sir Kynaston Studd (1858–1944), who remained in office until his death in 1944, and did much to continue

2613-464: The early 1880s the Institute attracted much favourable attention from the technical education lobby. Following the City of London Parochial Charities Act in 1883, it became clear that funds would be available to endow the Polytechnic and to found and support institutions on the same model across London. A public appeal was launched in 1888 to raise the required matching funding. The Scheme was finalised under

2680-536: The establishment of the Council for National Academic Awards ( CNAA ) in 1964, a number of degree courses were approved and became operational; including Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Civil, Building, Production, and Manufacturing), Architecture, Photography (1966), Arts Administration (1967), Life Sciences (1973) and Media Studies (1975). In 1960 the London County Council announced

2747-411: The first and only encounter between Cream and Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix . The union is run by five elected Officer Trustees who are campus based. Smoke Radio is a student-run radio station at the University of Westminster. It was founded in 2004 and broadcasts online from a studio in the university's Harrow campus. Since September 2005 the station has run a 24-hour playout system and broadcast

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2814-429: The guns, the only explosion of significance was the gun itself which was sent crashing into the empty grandstand. Another potentially dangerous incident was the launching of the rockets, one of which flew horizontally, narrowly missing the crowd. The crowd were not impressed by the efforts of Pepper and his team, laughing and jeering at their failed attempts. Some members of the audience even joined in by trying to launch

2881-685: The honour and expense of trying to do good by gently persuading the clouds to drop fatness." In the coming years, other scientists attempted what Pepper called "cloud compelling" (see weather modification ). In another letter to The Brisbane Courier in April 1884, Pepper referred to one of them, saying that he hoped the scientist would "not be unappreciated or treated with the ribald and narrowminded jokes and judgments that were showered on my head." Pepper returned to England in 1889 to enjoy his retirement. He died in Leytonstone on 25 March 1900. There

2948-848: The institution for 2021–22 was £240.9 million of which £4.25 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £223.7 million. The university is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities , the Association of MBAs , EFMD , EQUIS , and the European University Association . Westminster's alumni include a Nobel laureate in Medicine , the inventor of cordite , heads of state , politicians and mayors , Olympians , scientists, BAFTA - and Oscar -winning filmmakers, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Grammy Award -winning musicians, journalists, and poets. Graduates of

3015-562: The institution in 1840, when he descended in the diving bell, and became a patron in 1841. The first public photographic portrait studio in Europe opened on the roof of the Polytechnic in March 1841. In 1847, John Henry Pepper joined the Polytechnic and oversaw the introduction of evening lectures in engineering, applied science and technical subjects for young working Londoners. Pepper wrote several important science education books, one of which

3082-577: The kite themselves. The newspapers were also unkind with the Warwick Examiner and Times describing the event as being a "pseudo-scientific fiasco". Pepper felt very badly treated by fellow scientists and the general public and in a letter written to The Brisbane Courier dated 27 May 1882 he stated: "My experiment in Queensland was received with such derision and insults that in the face of those hard steely railings I shall leave to others

3149-603: The lease to the building in December 1881 for £15,000, and the premises re-opened on 25 September 1882. About 6,000 members and students – three times the anticipated number – attended during the first 1882/3 session. The institute gradually adopted the name the Polytechnic Young Men's Christian Institute , or simply, the Polytechnic, for short. From 1882 an expanded programme of classes began, including science, engineering and art classes held in conjunction with

3216-553: The new buildings were not finished until 1970. Holborn College of Law, Languages and Commerce was merged with Regent Street Polytechnic to form the Polytechnic of Central London (PCL). At a ceremony on 21 May 1971, the Lord Chancellor Lord Hailsham , grandson and namesake of Hogg , opened the new buildings and designated the new institution. In 1990, Harrow College of Higher Education became part of

3283-479: The patron on the formation of the university, is represented by the Tudor rose , a royal badge. The motto of the university, "The Lord is our Strength", is influenced by Quintin Hogg and his Young Men's Christian Institute. The open book on the escutcheon contains a Latin motto which reads as " Veritas ", meaning "truth". In the crest the demi lion with battle axe comes from the arms of Sir George Cayley. He founded

3350-483: The period. Following World War Two there was a rapid growth in the demand for further education and training, which was reorganised following the White Paper on Technical Education in 1956. The variety of levels of work at Regent Street meant that it was designated a regional college rather than a college of advanced technology, after which the governors decided to reduce the proportion of lower level work. Following

3417-406: The premises in 1859 caused the first institution to be wound up and a new one formed. Various regeneration schemes were considered, but in 1879 a fire damaged the roof, precipitating the final crisis. In September 1881, the Royal Polytechnic Institution closed, marking a transition to new ownership and a new era of educational development. Christian philanthropist Quintin Hogg (1845–1903) acquired

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3484-422: The public event. He gathered a range of materials including ten swivel guns, powerful rockets from HMS  Cormorant , a land mine, and a large quantity of gunpowder. The plan would be to create a bonfire that would billow smoke into the air, then an explosion in the clouds would contribute to a change in their electrical condition. He theorised that this would trigger the rainfall. Several helpers tried to launch

3551-625: The public. Located nearby is the Little Titchfield Street building, which houses the library for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, including the Westminster Law School , and the Wells Street building. The Marylebone Campus is located on Marylebone Road directly opposite Madame Tussaud's and Baker Street underground station. Built in the 1960s it is home to the Faculty of Architecture and

3618-682: The rise in costs for overseas students. After 1992, the Union was based primarily at the Marylebone site, where the SU served all students across four of its campuses. It now has offices on all campuses. The union also operates a bar, The Undercroft, and the Loft venue, located on the Harrow Campus. The union has hosted to numerous musical events and gigs including Fleetwood Mac , and most notably

3685-548: The time, Pepper claimed to have developed the technique after reading the 1831 book Recreative Memoirs by famed showman Étienne-Gaspard Robert . Pepper's demonstrations of "the ghost effect" were received with amazement by the general public while intriguing his fellow scientists. People returned to the theatre repeatedly in an attempt to work out the method being used; famed physicist Michael Faraday eventually gave up and requested an explanation. Pepper wrote eleven popular science books, starting with his first publications in

3752-570: The traditions of the founder. Two major appeals were launched to support expansion, the first for the rebuilding of 309 Regent Street in 1910–1912, and the second to build the Polytechnic Extension building for the Women's Institute in Little Titchfield Street, which was formally opened in 1929. Both buildings continued to provide sporting and social facilities for members of the Institute as well as workshops and classrooms for students of

3819-564: The university are styled with the post-nominal letters Westmin , to indicate the institution. The Royal Polytechnic Institution was built by William Mountford Nurse in 1837 and opened at 309 Regent Street on 6 August 1838 to provide (in the words of its prospectus of 1837) “an institution where the Public, at little expense, may acquire practical knowledge of the various arts and branches of science connected with manufacturers, mining operations and rural economy.” Sir George Cayley (1773–1857),

3886-570: The university performing strongly in Architecture and the Built Environment, and Geography and Environmental studies. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, almost 80 per cent of Westminster's submitted research across 20 subject areas was judged to be of international quality. In 2013, Westminster was ranked joint second in the UK by the Architects’ Journal in their "AJ Top 100" special issue. A Student Representative Council (SRC)

3953-509: The university's close association with the Hogg family. Westminster's efforts in overseas expansion resulted in the university being awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2000, and again in 2005. In recent years, the university has established the Africa, Arab and China Media Centres ; the Centre for the Study of Democracy, the institute for Modern and Contemporary Culture, and absorbed

4020-433: The vicinity of the Professor's Apparatus, a small nominal charge of SIXPENCE admission to the Course will be made. — Advertisement in The Brisbane Courier , 30 January 1882 The summer of 1882 brought a drought to the south-east of Queensland with little rain and intense temperatures. Pepper believed that a scientific solution to the problem might be possible and decided to attempt a rainmaking experiment. He took out

4087-414: The world. Celebrations included an interfaith service at Westminster Abbey on 30 January 2013. Westminster has four main campuses, three of which are in central London . The Regent Campus comprises a group of buildings clustered around its historic headquarters at 309 Regent Street. The Regent Street Cinema lies within the 309 Regent Street building, and serves as a fully functioning cinema, open to

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4154-431: Was a British scientist and inventor who toured the English-speaking world with his scientific demonstrations. He entertained the public, royalty, and fellow scientists with a wide range of technological innovations. He is primarily remembered for developing the projection technique known as Pepper's ghost , building a large-scale version of the concept by Henry Dircks . He also oversaw the introduction of evening lectures at

4221-419: Was established at the polytechnic in 1933, to create a sense of unity and expand the social activities of its day students. The SRC was affiliated to the National Union of Students but initially restricted itself largely to social activities. After 1945 it began to campaign on issues such as lifting a ban on religious or political activity within the Polytechnic, and establishing a formal Students’ Union. The ban

4288-459: Was fascinated with electricity and light. In 1863 he illuminated Trafalgar Square and St. Paul's Cathedral to celebrate the marriage of Edward Albert, Prince of Wales , and Alexandra of Denmark . He achieved this using a variation of the arc lamp . On 21 December 1867 at a banquet of "noblemen and scientific gentlemen" Pepper arranged for a telegram to be sent between Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington and Andrew Johnson , President of

4355-440: Was from funding grants, research grants and contracts. The university's coat of arms was granted on 17 May 1993. The predecessor Polytechnic of Central London used the colours of claret and silver and this was adapted into the murrey and argent livery of the arms. The portcullis is taken from the arms of the City of Westminster whilst the open book symbolises learning. The late Queen Elizabeth II , who agreed to continue as

4422-474: Was lifted in 1962 and a Union granted in 1965. University of Westminster Students' Union (UWSU) was founded in 1966 as The Polytechnic Students' Union. Its first President was Owen Spencer-Thomas (1966–1967). During the 1970s the newly formed Polytechnic of Central London Students’ Union (PCLSU) engaged in a strategy of protest and direct action. Against a backdrop of general social unrest, PCLSU campaigned against cuts in student grants, lack of accommodation and

4489-403: Was re-dedicated at Westminster Abbey on 1 December 1992. As a university, Westminster gained the power to grant its own degrees. Dame Mary Hogg (great-granddaughter of Quintin Hogg, founder of the Regent Street Polytechnic) was awarded an honorary doctorate of law (LLD) by the University of Westminster in 1995. Hogg also became part of the court of governors at the university, thus continuing

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