Magister Scientiæ;

University of Greenwich main campus

I have recently been accepted to study for a Magister Scientiæ; or Masters of Science abbreviated MSc (reading Cinematography and Post Production) at The School of Mathematics and Computer Science at The University of Greenwich.

Greenwich is described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as being of “outstanding universal value” and reckoned to be the “finest and most dramatically sited architectural and landscape ensemble in the British Isles” . The Guardian Newspaper league tables for 2009 from have rated The University of Greenwich alongside Oxford, Cambridge and Warwick as one of the Top four Schools for Mathematics and Computer Science while the Times Newspaper has said "The University of Greenwich inhabits what must rank as some of the most exquisite university grounds in the country".


The Painted Hall

The Royal Observatory is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian line and so considered one of the most important historic & scientific sites in the world. The University has established research partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies and the European Space Agency. In 2009, a University of Greenwich graduate was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. Professor Kao was awarded the prize for being the first person to develop a device, which makes use of Einstein’s discovery that photons of light can be turned into an electrical signal.

Professor Martin Barstow, Professor of Astrophysics and Space Science at the University of Leicester, said:

"The invention of the CCD has had a major impact on all our lives, revolutionising our ability to record, process and share images. From YouTube to the Hubble Space Telescope: these devices are now at the heart of our digital video and still cameras and underpin the extraordinary progress made in astronomy during the past 20-30 years."


View of the College in the late 1600's

The University of Greenwich campus is considered to be an architectural masterpiece and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Up until the mid- 20th century the river Thames served as the major thoroughfare for national and international trade and travel to the capital. Situated on a commanding site of the Thames with impressive views across the river to the City of London, the palace of Greenwich was regarded as a symbol of national prestige. In the 1660's King Charles II, inspired by the location on the river and the Greenwich site, devised an entirely new scheme and embarked upon a policy of expansion that was to transform the old Tudor palace of Greenwich. The new Baroque palace was to reflect the might and power of the newly restored Monarchy. Much of the Tudor palace swept away and replaced by a baroque palace even more impressive in size and splendour.


Graduation takes place at The College Chapel

The building was commissioned to be a classically inspired rival to the French Palace of Versailles, manifested in hard-wearing portland stone on a colossal scale. Situated within the oldest enclosed Royal Park in Britain, the 73 hectares (183 acres) of grounds were remodeled by André Le Notre, gardener to Louis XIV of France, in a formal symmetrical style. Much of the earlier 15th century palace was demolished, with only The Queens House remaining as the centerpiece of the new Baroque layout. Due to the massive scale of the project and the huge costs involved, building work was slow, often in fits and starts and sometimes comming to a complete halt due to lack of funds. The main work took place between 1696 and 1712 although the construction was not finished completely until 1752.


Print of Greenwich in the 1400's

Under King William III and Mary II the Queens House, designed by Inigo Jones, remained a royal residence while the Kings House was earmarked for the use as a naval hospital. The project came to be known as The Greenwich Hospital, and it was only later that the site became associated with The Royal Naval College before becoming the University of Greenwich.


Dome in the Painted Hall

Although the foundations of the college can be traced back to the 1400's The University of Greenwich is very much a modern University. Since the 19th century, the University has expanded from a technical institution to a regional leader teaching a range of subjects across engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and business. The research focus is applied science with strong links to the scientific community and Greenwich offers research and consultancy services to businesses and other organizations.

http://cms1.gre.ac.uk/web/news/archive05.asp


Some of the ancient trees in Greenwich Park

An innovator from the start, a range of specialist organisations have joined the institution, to add to the Universities first-class research and consultancy. A large number of technical start-up companies have established themselves in the Thames Valley and these companies have strong ties to the university. As a result research income from the industry has grown and this has been one reasons for the success in recent Government Research Assessments. Support comes as well from the Indian government and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education. BBC Training and Development, a globally recognized center of excellence, teaches The MSc course in Cinematography & Post-Production in conjunction with Greenwich.


Shakespeare rehearsed and performed his plays at Greenwich

The University is run by Vice Chancellor Tessa Blackstone, who has served as the Minister of State for Education and as the Minister of State for The Arts. Blackstone is Professor of Educational Administration at the world-renowned University of London Institute of Education, and she a Life Peer in the British House of Lords.

*(However, neither Oxford, Cambridge or Warwick specializes in Cinematography- my chosen subject)



Arabian Astrolabe from the museum collection at Greenwich

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2009/index.html

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/288915,hong-kong-father-of-fibre-optics-awarded-nobel-prize-for-physics.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2009/may/12/university-guide-mathematics