31 March 1880:
The first university course on electromagnetism was taught by James Clerk Maxwell at the University of Cambridge.
30 March 1972
The California Supreme Court rules in Serrano v. Priest that the state’s school finance system, which relied heavily on local property taxes, was unconstitutional because it resulted in unequal funding for schools. The ruling had major implications for the state’s universities and colleges, as they too relied on local property taxes for funding.
29 March 1961
The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, giving residents of Washington, D.C., the right to vote in presidential elections. This was significant for colleges and universities in the District of Columbia, as it gave their students a voice in national politics.
28 March 1899:
The world’s first international radio transmission was sent from England to France by Guglielmo Marconi, marking a major milestone in the development of wireless communication.
27 March 1969:
The first campus-wide computer network — ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, an arm of the United State Defense Department) –was established by Bob Taylor at the University of California Los Angeles. This laid the foundation for the internet as we know it today.
26 March 2019:
The European Parliament approved new copyright laws that aimed to better protect the rights of artists and publishers online, but which faced criticism over potential restrictions on free speech. Titled Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market each member state should have implemented it by 7 June 2021.
25 March 1911:
While at the University of Munich the German physicist Arnold Sommerfeld introduces the concept of the fine-structure constant, which is a fundamental constant of nature that characterizes the strength of the electromagnetic force. It is denoted by the symbol alpha (α) and is approximately equal to 1/137. The fine structure constant informs the theoretical framework of quantum computing; a competitive branch of research that is accelerating in education communities — e.g. University of Michigan Quantum Engineering Lab.
The facilities used for quantum computing are called quantum labs, and they are designed to provide a highly controlled and isolated environment for quantum systems. These labs typically have specialized equipment, such as cryogenic cooling systems and highly sensitive detectors, that are necessary for manipulating and measuring qubits. In addition to the specialized equipment, quantum labs are designed to minimize external disturbances and to shield the quantum systems from noise and interference. This is achieved through various means, such as using highly conductive metals to shield against electromagnetic radiation and using vibration isolation systems to minimize mechanical disturbances.
24 March 1882:
Robert Koch discovers the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis, known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He is widely respected as the founding father of modern microbiology. He conducted much of this research at his laboratory at the Imperial Health Office in Berlin. Later in his career, Koch also worked at the University of Berlin and founded the Institute for Infectious Diseases in Berlin. His work in bacteriology and tuberculosis had a significant impact on public health in Germany and around the world.
The International Organization for Standardization 17025 is a general standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, and it includes specific requirements for microbiology laboratories. The standard covers areas such as laboratory management, personnel competence, measurement traceability, equipment and facilities, and method validation and verification. ISO 17025 is used by accreditation bodies around the world to assess the competence of microbiology laboratories. Laboratories that comply with ISO 17025 are deemed to have demonstrated their ability to produce reliable and accurate results.
March 24, 2020:
Former President Donald J. Trump expressed his opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns on multiple occasions during the pandemic. He believed that lockdowns would do more harm than good, arguing that they would damage the American economy and society. During a Fox News virtual town hall, President Trump stated, “I’m not looking at months, I can tell you right now. We’re going to be opening up our country. Because that causes problems that, in my opinion, could be far bigger problems.”
President Trump also argued that lockdowns would lead to increased mental health issues and a rise in drug and alcohol abuse. He believed that the cure could not be worse than the disease and that Americans should be able to make their own decisions about how to manage the risks associated with the pandemic.
23 March 753 B.C:
According to legend, the city of Rome is founded by Romulus and Remus.
The first university in Rome, Italy was the Sapienza University of Rome, which is also known as the University of Rome La Sapienza. It was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII as the Studium Urbis, and it is one of the oldest universities in Europe.
Standards Michigan collaboration:
22 March 1960:
Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes at Columbia University receive a patent for the laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)
21 March 1804:
While at the Collège de France mathematician and astronomer Pierre-Simon Laplace (“The French Newton”) presented his “nebular hypothesis,” which proposed that the solar system formed from a giant cloud of gas and dust.
20 March 1854:
The Republican Party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin in opposition to the expansion of slavery favored by the Democrat Party. (See Kansas-Nebraska Act, which permitted the Democratic Party to expand slavery into the new territories acquired in the Louisiana Purchase).
19 March 1916:
Albert Einstein published his Theory of General Relativity in the Annalen der Physik. This theory revolutionized our understanding of gravity and space-time.
He began his studies in 1896 at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule) in Zurich. He initially applied to study electrical engineering but failed the entrance exam. He then took a second entrance exam and was admitted to the physics program. After completing his studies at ETH, Einstein worked as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland for several years. During this time, he continued to conduct research in his spare time.
In 1901, Einstein obtained his doctorate from the University of Zurich for his thesis on the dimensions of molecules.
Throughout his career, Einstein also held academic positions at several universities, including the University of Bern, University of Zurich, Charles University in Prague, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
18 March 1937:
A natural gas explosion in a school in New London, Texas killed 294 people, most of them children. This disaster led to significant changes in natural gas regulations and safety standards.
17 March 1998:
1851: Physicist William Thomson (later known as Lord Kelvin) presents his paper titled “On the Dynamical Theory of Heat” to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, introducing the concept of absolute temperature.
Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement of 1998, which marked the end of decades of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland known as “The Troubles.” While the agreement was not signed on March 17th, it is celebrated as a major milestone in Irish history and the peace process is often remembered on St. Patrick’s Day.
While the agreement did not have a direct impact on colleges and universities in Ireland, it did have an indirect impact on higher education in Northern Ireland by helping to bring an end to decades of sectarian violence and political instability in the region. There has been increased investment in higher education in Northern Ireland, with a focus on promoting cross-community relations and encouraging students from all backgrounds to attend college or university. This has led to the development of new programs and initiatives designed to promote diversity and inclusion in higher education, as well as increased collaboration between universities and other institutions in the region.
https://youtu.be/0oA3gKx06tQ
https://youtu.be/mALYlZ54wjM
Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister, is made an honorary citizen of the United States by act of Congress. He had previously delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in 1946.
16 March 1998:
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was established with the goal of improving education at all levels in the United States.
15 March 1493:
Christopher Columbus returns to Spain after his first voyage to the Americas, bringing back a variety of plant and animal specimens that would eventually have a significant impact on the development of science and agriculture. Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492 marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Americas. This date is now celebrated in the United States as Columbus Day, a federal holiday that commemorates the arrival of Columbus in the Americas.
14 March 1923:
Lee De Forest demonstrated his “Phonofilm” sound-on-film process, marking a significant advancement in motion picture technology.
5 March 1955:
Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister, is made an honorary citizen of the United States by act of Congress. He had previously delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in 1946.
4 March 1954:
The first mass inoculation of children against polio using the Salk vaccine takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the University of Pittsburgh.
3 March 1820:
The U.S. Congress passes the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri Compromise was a federal legislation that balanced desires of northern states to prevent expansion of slavery by southern state Democrats
2 March 1791:
Longest serving US Secretary of State — Thomas Jefferson was appointed — a position he held for eight years. Jefferson is one of the most well-known founding fathers of the United States, and he played a crucial role in shaping the country’s political and diplomatic landscape.
Jefferson played a pivotal role in the founding of the University of Virginia;* believing that education was essential for a democracy to function properly, and he envisioned the University of Virginia as a model of academic excellence and intellectual freedom. Jefferson served as the university’s primary architect, designing the layout of the campus, the curriculum, and the governance structure. He also personally selected the faculty members and established the library collection. He emphasized the importance of the study of the classics, as well as modern languages, mathematics, and science.
* Thomas Jefferson did not wear a COVID-19 face mask, as shown in this video.
