3 June 2015 marks the anniversary of atomic timekeeping, a revolutionary technology which underpins much that we take for granted in the modern world. Physicist Louis Essen spent the early 1950s developing his pioneering atomic clock at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). On 3 June 1955, Essen started to control the UK radio time signals using atomic units of time derived from the atomic clock, effectively marking what Essen called “the death of the astronomical second and the birth of atomic time.”
As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations taking place at NPL, Watch it Made were invited to the site during half term week in October to offer pupils of local schools in the area the opportunity to learn about watch making and manufacture their own watches.
During the week, pupils and the Watch it Made team were honoured by a visit from Philip Greenish CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Professor Dame Ann Dowling DBE FREng FRS, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, who had the opportunity to speak with the pupils about their watch making experience.
Watch it Made would like to thank the National Physical Laboratory for their hospitality and assistance with delivering the watch making experiences on site, and to the Royal Academy of Engineering for their support thorough the Ingenious projects award.
