The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1134: Chapter 111: An Honorary Doctor Isn’t a Real Doctor?

The name of Bismarck is practically thunderous in Gottingen; even professors from other colleges have heard of this fellow.

Thus, upon learning this news, professors unable to suppress their loneliness occasionally take walks to the Law College in moments of enthusiasm, aside from teaching and research.

Yet when these senior professors eventually stroll over to the Law College, they discover that the news of Bismarck’s ‘ruthless suppression’ has spread among the student body far faster than among themselves.

Traffic to the Law College has surged over the past week, showing a faint trend of replacing the City Hall’s cellar pub as the ‘most popular student tourist attraction.’

Although the thrashing of Bismarck is quite welcomed by the students, in the eyes of some old-fashioned professors, the behavior of this new Academic Director is practically no different from ordinary students, and, judging by his age, that indeed seems to be the case.

These professors, who obtained their teaching positions through hardships, despite not voicing it, harbor quite some criticism in their hearts toward the education ministry’s parachuting of a new Academic Director.

Although all procedures concerning the appointment of Sir Arthur Hastings were legal, they did not strictly follow the appointment process for professors at Deutsch University.

Just like the German personality, the appointment procedure for professors at Deutsch University has always been known for its meticulousness and precision.

In the process of appointing subject professors at the university, several steps are generally followed.

Initially, the university must provide an introduction and description of the value of the professor position and publish recruitment advertisements in academic journals and news media for open recruitment.

Subsequently, the university would establish a recruitment committee responsible for matters related to this professor recruitment.

Upon receiving job applications from candidates, the committee verifies their qualifications and conducts pre-selection work, followed by final selection interviews based on pre-selection results.

Finally, the committee recommends three candidates based on interview results, and the president conducts employment conversations with the candidates according to ranking, deciding who to appoint ultimately.

Indeed, in the emerging field of Electromagnetism, Arthur Hastings, as a collaborator of Faraday, unquestionably has the qualifications to obtain a teaching position at Gottingen University. Even in an open recruitment, professors do not doubt this young man could defeat other competitors.

However, he has a notable flaw: he is not a Ph.D. graduate. Only Ph.D. holders can be appointed as professors, which is a strict requirement at Gottingen University.

Although Sir Arthur Hastings’ doctoral degree certificate was posted from the University of London to Gottingen a few days ago, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the certificate was clearly a posthumous issuance.

Because clearly stated on it was that, in light of Sir Arthur Hastings’ prominent contributions to the field of Electromagnetism, Mr. Leonard Horn, the president of the University of London, decided to award him an honorary Doctor of Physics.

Consequently, some professors secretly speculate that the new Academic Director held off convening a teaching meeting because his honorary doctoral degree had yet to drift over from the other side of the English Channel a few days ago.

In a certain sense, the professors guessed correctly, but they only guessed half right.

The other half of the reason was that, a few days ago, Professors Gauss and Weber were searching all over Gottingen for Sir Arthur Hastings, hoping he could guide them in setting up telegraph lines and conduct deep academic exchanges in Electromagnetism and Mathematics.

Arthur originally thought that he climbed out of an unfathomable pit upon leaving the French Academy of Sciences for Gottingen.

However, to his unexpected discovery, Gottingen University, at its peak, could single-handedly contend against the French Academy of Sciences.

To speak more bluntly, they could merely dispatch Professor Gauss alone to hold their own against Poisson, Cauchy, and the like.

After all, this gentleman is practically the reigning top figure in Europa. Back then, Arthur only bore the burden of six departments and twenty-three divisions at Scotland Yard, while Gauss bore the burden of the entire Mathematics community of France, Germany, Britain, Russia, and even the whole European world.

In the professors’ discussion, the sound of firm footsteps suddenly echoed outside the auditorium.

Sir Arthur Hastings, the newly appointed Gottingen University Supervisor and National Special Representative, paced into the hall, his presence immediately capturing the professors’ attention.

As a twenty-four-year-old young man, Arthur possesses a slender figure, his expression serious yet dignified.

Wearing a set of trademark riding attire, he appeared windblown, as if just returned from outside.

The Hanover Kingdom Badge, symbolizing national authority, adorned the chest of his riding attire, and the ribbon representing honor subtly swayed with his step, as if proclaiming his dual identity as School Director and National Representative with each step.

Arthur ascended the wooden steps one by one, his pace firm, such that upon first glance, one would likely mistake him for a bona fide German military noble rather than an English lord who crossed the sea from London.

Arthur stood firmly at the lectern, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire hall before settling on Professor John Herbart, Dean of the Philosophy College whom he knows well: “May we commence?”

Professor Herbart stood as Academic Director Assistant, slightly nodding: “Aside from Gauss and Weber and those remaining in the capital for meetings, all other professors are here.”

“Hmm?” Arthur feigned ignorance, asking: “Do Professors Gauss and Weber have business?”

“Professor Gauss has been in charge of leading the land surveying efforts for the Kingdom of Hanover since 1816, a project with a particularly large workload, hence he goes on business trips now and then.”

“I see.” Arthur chuckled: “Such a pity, I was finally hoping to meet this world-renowned scholar today, but still missed him. Nonetheless, not to worry, I’ll have another chance someday.”

Professor Herbart earnestly noted Arthur’s request: “If you’d like to meet Gauss, I’ll notify him to visit the School Director’s office once he’s back. Electromagnetism is a newly established field of study at the university, and to start it off well, I believe it’s necessary to shift current academic resources toward this discipline.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur promptly interrupted: “Once Mr. Gauss returns, I’ll call on him. Scholars like him must be very busy usually, so I can’t consume too much of his resources.”

“Rest assured of that.”

Herbart pocketed the pen, the old academic replied dutifully: “Gauss previously expressed his wish to meet you, stating that Mr. Navier from the Paris Academy of Sciences and Mr. Coriolis wrote to him saying you solved Navier’s long-standing issue of Fluid Mechanics Equation in Paris and greatly inspired Mr. Coriolis’s latest research. Gauss also encountered a problem recently that he’d like to discuss with you.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur’s face turned pale, he stood on stage, speechless for a while.

Yet beneath the stage, the professors’ exclamations arose.

If earlier they might still have had doubts about Arthur’s academic ability, now the only sentiment left is admiration.

Everyone knows how much of a genius Gauss is, if even he recognized Sir Arthur Hastings’ academic abilities so much, then his offering an Electromagnetism professorship seems justifiable.

In the eyes of these professors, Gauss’s praise weighs far heavier than a doctoral degree.

More commendable is that a twenty-four-year-old lad received Gauss’s commendation yet could remain calm, composed, and stand unfazed on stage, achieving not delight in external things nor dejection in personal adversity.

This calmness alone already proves this young man’s truly remarkable qualities.

The professors murmured: “This Director is indeed no ordinary person.”