Alexander Williamson

Alexander Williamson was professor of chemistry at UCL (1849–87) and a leading scientist of his time. He taught and cared for visiting Japanese students, thereby assisting them with their goal of modernising Japan. This short, accessible biography explores his contribution to nineteenth-century science as well as his lasting impact on Japanese society. In 1863 five students from the Chōshū clan, with a desperate desire to learn from the West, made their way to England. They were put in the care of Williamson and his wife. Their mission was to learn about cutting-edge Western technology, science, economics and politics. When they returned home they rapidly became leading figures in Japanese life at a particularly turbulent time, one of them serving as the country’s first prime minister. Subsequently many other Japanese students followed in their footsteps and studied at UCL. The remarkable story of the part Williamson and UCL played in the modernisation of Japan is little known today. This biography will promote a deeper understanding of Williamson’s scientific innovations and his legacy for Anglo-Japanese relations. An afterword briefly outlines the extraordinary careers of the pioneering students after they left Britain

重症妊娠高血圧腎症における胎盤および母体血中Apelin発現の検討

藤田保健衛生大

Alexander Williamson

Alexander Williamson was professor of chemistry at UCL (1849–87) and a leading scientist of his time. He taught and cared for visiting Japanese students, thereby assisting them with their goal of modernising Japan. This short, accessible biography explores his contribution to nineteenth-century science as well as his lasting impact on Japanese society. In 1863 five students from the Chōshū clan, with a desperate desire to learn from the West, made their way to England. They were put in the care of Williamson and his wife. Their mission was to learn about cutting-edge Western technology, science, economics and politics. When they returned home they rapidly became leading figures in Japanese life at a particularly turbulent time, one of them serving as the country’s first prime minister. Subsequently many other Japanese students followed in their footsteps and studied at UCL. The remarkable story of the part Williamson and UCL played in the modernisation of Japan is little known today. This biography will promote a deeper understanding of Williamson’s scientific innovations and his legacy for Anglo-Japanese relations. An afterword briefly outlines the extraordinary careers of the pioneering students after they left Britain

Alexander Williamson: A Victorian chemist and the making of modern Japan

Alexander Williamson was professor of chemistry at UCL (1849–87) and a leading scientist of his time. He taught and cared for visiting Japanese students, thereby assisting them with their goal of modernising Japan. This short, accessible biography explores his contribution to nineteenth-century science as well as his lasting impact on Japanese society. In 1863 five students from the Chōshū clan, with a desperate desire to learn from the West, made their way to England. They were put in the care of Williamson and his wife. Their mission was to learn about cutting-edge Western technology, science, economics and politics. When they returned home they rapidly became leading figures in Japanese life at a particularly turbulent time, one of them serving as the country’s first prime minister. Subsequently many other Japanese students followed in their footsteps and studied at UCL. The remarkable story of the part Williamson and UCL played in the modernisation of Japan is little known today. This biography will promote a deeper understanding of Williamson’s scientific innovations and his legacy for Anglo-Japanese relations. An Afterword briefly outlines the extraordinary careers of the pioneering students after they left Britain

Students’ Comprehension of Scientific Discussion: Using Eye-tracking Technique to Investigate the Effects of Social-media Messages on Television

The present study explores the effects of social-media messages that are presented in television content. In particular, the retention of content and changes in attitude through watching television programs was investigated. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: one that included social-media messages and one that omitted social-media messages. The participants’ eye movements as well as retention performance and attitude toward the topic discussed on the television program were measured. Attitude was measured using two subscales: one concerned with positive attitude and the other with skeptical attitude. Results indicated that the retention performance of participants who paid attention to the social-media messages longer was lower than that of participants who paid less attention. The participants’ attitudes changed after watching the television program but the effects of social-media messages were unclear for attitude change. The possibility of the appropriate use of social-media messages is also discussed