Two new postage stamps mark major milestones in Irish science: Dublin’s year as City of Science in 2012, and the anniversary of the formulation of Boyle’s Law 350 years ago.
The City of Science stamp shows Dublin’s Convention Centre which is hosting the Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF 2012) this week, and a graphic with echoes of DNA’s molecular structure.
ESOF 2012 is the largest science event of its kind in Europe, and throughout 2012 Ireland will be showcasing its rich scientific heritage on the world stage.
Boyle’s Law
The stamp of Robert Boyle (1627-1691) includes his groundbreaking formula and an explanatory diagram.
Boyle, who is often called “the father of modern chemistry”, was born in Lismore, Co Waterford.
He formulated Boyle’s Law in 1662, which states that the pressure exerted by a gas held at a constant temperature varies inversely with the volume of the gas. For example, if the volume is halved, the pressure is doubled; or if the volume is doubled, the pressure is halved.
Learn more
Find out more about the first Robert Boyle Summer School, which will take place in Lismore this month
Read about Boyle’s Law on Wikipedia
Visit the Dublin City of Science website
The new stamps are available from post offices or from IrishStamps.ie
