Elements of Genius: The Legacy of Chemistry in St Andrews

Coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the teaching of chemistry in St Andrews, and the International Year of Chemistry, Elements of Genius will showcase some of the most illustrious and distinguished chemists, including Nobel Prize winners, who have played a significant and vital role in Scotland’s oldest university.

In this exhibition we examine the major chemical discoveries made by these chemists, and the Chemistry Department's role in the war effort, as well as the strong links between chemistry, St Andrews, and early photography. The exhibition concludes with a brief look at the contemporary Department, providing a glimpse of the dynamic and pioneering research which has made the Department what it is today.

The exhibition features important and exciting objects from the University's collections, such as sugar samples from research into carbohydrates, a rare piece of 18th century chemical glassware, portraits, prints, and even a working experiment!