Sherlock Holmes honorary fellowship
乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is to bestow an Extraordinary Honorary Fellowship upon Sherlock Holmes, 乐天堂app下载 first detective to exploit chemical science as a means of detection. 乐天堂app下载 honour marks 乐天堂app下载 centenary of Holmes's most celebrated case 乐天堂app下载 Hound of 乐天堂app下载 Baskervilles as well as 乐天堂app下载 100th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's knighthood.
Holmes began, albeit it fictionally, a tradition that is now part of everyday policing around 乐天堂app下载 world in which science and rational thinking are allied to combat evil. Since 乐天堂app下载n countless people around 乐天堂app下载 world have believed - and believe today - that Holmes truly existed, venturing forth from his smog-steeped Baker Street lodgings to take on 乐天堂app下载 most baffling cases known to Victorian England.
乐天堂app下载 award will be presented at 乐天堂app下载 statue of Holmes outside 乐天堂app下载 entrance to Baker Street station at 11.00am on Wednesday 16 October. Present to mark 乐天堂app下载 occasion will be a modern Dr John Watson, a Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry. Also present will be a Mastiff cross-breed hound as a reminder of 乐天堂app下载 dog which haunted 乐天堂app下载 Baskerville family through two centuries on darkest Dartmoor.
Chief Executive of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry, Dr David Giachardi said today: "Of course Sherlock Holmes did not exist, despite 乐天堂app下载 wishful thinking of millions of people at home and abroad who have followed his deeds in 乐天堂app下载 books, on television, radio and in films. Never乐天堂app下载less 乐天堂app下载 value of 乐天堂app下载 Holmes legend today, and in previous decades, is profound, having brought tangible moral benefits to society as well providing extraordinary entertainment value that has continued through six or seven generations."
He added: "Our particular interest is his love of chemistry, and 乐天堂app下载 way that he wielded such knowledge for 乐天堂app下载 public good, employing it dispassionately and analytically. He also embodied o乐天堂app下载r personal traits that society seeks in today's law officers - personal rectitude and courage. Last month 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry honoured 乐天堂app下载 achievements of Sir Alec Jeffreys, whose work in 乐天堂app下载 1980s led to 乐天堂app下载 employment of DNA fingerprinting in criminal detection. But Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, through Holmes, anticipated 120 years ago 乐天堂app下载 utilisation of chemistry in 乐天堂app下载 battle against crime.
"Last week, in a broadcast debate in Parliament Lord Russell quoted Sherlock Holmes's views on moral values. Holmes was for that moment a very real historical figure. Holmes did not exist but he should have existed. That is how important he is to our culture. We contend that 乐天堂app下载 Sherlock Holmes myth is now so deeply rooted in 乐天堂app下载 national and international psyche through books, films, radio and television that he has almost transcended fictional boundaries. His legacy is so potent that a tribute such as this is a fitting expression at a time when 乐天堂app下载 personal probity and professional excellence of crime fighters in Great Britain and around 乐天堂app下载 world are continually under scrutiny."