Thomas Laby

Thomas Laby was our first chair of physics, appointed in 1909. Born in Australia, Laby's research area was in radioactivity and x-ray equipment. Alongside Thomas Hunter and George von Zendlitz, he wrote strongly against the University as solely a place of examinations in pursuit of a qualification, where teachers taught an imposed syllabus from England. The men successfully advocated for teachers and researchers to have a say in policy, and asserted the University's independence.