Pranika Arisht

Why is Ernest Rutherford a good person for a whanau House to be named after?

The father of nuclear physics, the receiver of the noble prize for chemistry, knighthood, order of merit, peerage and Coat of arms...Lord Ernest Rutherford was awarded with these magnificent achievements. Einstein once said, “Ernest Rutherford is... the second Newton.” In Macleans College there are eight whanau houses altogether, Rutherford is represented by his distinctive character which exemplifies values, traits and qualities a student should acquire. Rutherford house has a scientific bend when entered through to the commons area.

The house has their charity support towards cure kids and has a unique mascot, “Ellie the Pink Elephant”.

“All science is either physics or collecting stamps,” Ernest Rutherford stated this quote to show how important Science and Physics was to him. He worked through his life and made a series of remarkable discoveries he also, came up with theories supporting the fields of radioactivity and nuclear physics. Lord Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937) was the son of James Rutherford and Martha Thompson and he was born on a farm in New Zealand. Lord Earnest completed a degree at the University of New Zealand by winning 1 of 10 scholarships given nationally to study at New Zealand’s University. He became the first graduate student at the Cavendish Laboratory in England. After this he began experimenting with the transmission of radio waves and then joined J.J Thompson’s ongoing investigation of the conduction of electricity through gases. Throughout Lord Earnest’s career he displayed his ability to work creatively with associates and he established the theory of nuclear atoms and to carry out transmutation reaction (1919). Ernest Rutherford also discovered the half-life of radioactive elements. Lord Ernest died aged 66 on the 19th

of October 1937, he died because of an Umbilical Hernia was left untreated for too long. There was a delay in his operation as lords are required to be operated by a titled doctor and this caused his death. Lord Ernest has been present on the ‘New Zealand Hundred Dollar Note’ since 1992. In his remembrance there has been a charitable trust set up by the Royal Society of New Zealand to support research and technology called, ‘The Rutherford Foundation’. He received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1908 and one of the elements, Rutherfordium (element number 104) was named after him; he was made a knight, then a peer with a seat in the House of Lords; and for the ultimate honour he was buried in Westminster Abbey.

The element on the Periodic Table, Rutherfordium (named after Lord Ernest Rutherford after receiving the Nobel Prize for chemistry.

Pranika Arisht

Rutherford house was completed and the first house leader, Mr D. Martin was appointed in 1980 but it wasn’t officially open until 1982. In 1987, Mr J Loregan was selected new house leader and remained in the position until 1994. After that Mrs M. Van Weeuwen only served one year as house leader before our current leader, Mr S. Morrison took up the position. Our house is a “HUGE FAMILY”; we are all here for one and another. In each whanau there is a team of helpful, supportive and encouraging staff and a combination of students throughout all years. The environment in the whanau house system helps students develop their full potential, social and intellectual skills. The community of the whanau house with its values, social interactions and leadership opportunities is an important factor of the personal development of all young people. As students we feel secure and service to the community (Cure Kids) makes us feel like a part of something bigger, we feel proud to be lending a hand and helping the ones in need. Cure kids was established over 35 years ago to help the ones experiencing life-threatening childhood illnesses in New Zealand. Whanau houses create excitement within the area and the element of competition begins to set in. The whanau house system is the ideal framework to encourage one another and push to the maximum limits and do there best in every possible area.

With all of Lord Rutherford’s accomplishments he is an excellent role model for us and shows where our expectations and standards should be set. His skills such as determination, perseverance, hard work, leadership and many more are the right qualities and virtues we have to master. With the house system it helps us achieve our goals, asking for help isn’t difficult as our seniors have a positive, welcoming attitude. The bond between us students and teachers is strong so approaching any staff or student with problems is easy! The community service enhances our personality and changes how we think of others and their positions. Lord Ernest has a lot of great qualities to offer and our house works together as one to keep all the virtues present in every student. His personality and traits inspire many students and lets them know that there is no boundary to success!

Lord Ernest Rutherford’s experiment with gold foil.

Pranika Arisht

Bibliography:

Websites:

1. www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/.../rutherford-bio.htm

2. www.rutherford.org.nz/

3. www.chemheritage.org/discover/chemistry-in.../rutherford.aspx

4. www.chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/history/rutherford.html

5. www.nzedge.com/heroes/rutherford.htm

6. www.chemistry.co.nz/ernest_rutherford.htm

7. www.rutherford.org.nz/biography.htm

8. www.rutherford.org.nz/awards.htm

9. www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/scientists/ernestrutherford.html

Books:

1. Einstein’s Mirror, written by Anthony J. G. Hey, Patrick Walters 2. Canada and the Noble Prize , written by Harry Black3. Rutherford: Scientist Supreme, written by John Campbell4. Ernest Rutherford: Father of Nuclear Science, written by Naomi E. Pasachoff5. Chemistry: A Modern Course, written by Robert C. Smoot, jack price, Richard

G. Smith

Interviews:

1. Prajoal Arisht (Rutherford House sibling)