The McGill University Physics Collections

Given Montreal’s status as a hub of technology and science, I’ve often found it disappointing how few technology and science museums can actually be found here. I don’t know why this is, it’s a bit of a mystery to me why one needs to travel to Toronto or nearby Ottawa to get a science fix.

That said, Montreal isn’t completely devoid of such experiences, if you know where to find them. There’s small museums scattered around the city, including some on the McGill University Campus.

One I visited recently was the dual Rutherford and McPherson collections located in McGill’s physics department. Spread over two rooms, when you visit their curator will take you on a journey through some of the most important discoveries in physics, as well as show you an impressive collection of scientific instruments.

The Rutherford Collection

You’ve probably heard of Ernest Rutherford, even if you’re not a physicist. Originally from New Zealand, he resided as a physics professor at McGill from 1898–1907 where he completed several groundbreaking experiments which moved the needle on our understanding of the physical world. The term “half life”? That’s Rutherford’s.

The Rutherford Collection showcases the original equipment Ernest Rutherford used in his experiments with radiation. It’s the largest collection of preserved equipment used in his experiments which exists anywhere in the world.

Although groundbreaking research took place at McGill, it wasn’t until he returned to England that his work was widely acknowledged, resulting in his receipt of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry a year after his departure from Canada.

And I perhaps detected a note of bitterness from the curator that in spite of Rutherford’s discoveries during his tenure at McGill his recognition mostly came later, therefore associating his name with universities such as Manchester and Cambridge in the public consciousness.

The McPherson Collection

Adjacent to Rutherford’s room is The McPherson Collection which has on show a large number of physics apparatus. It’s a growing collection, as the McGill physics department continues to donate outdated equipment to the collection as it gets replaced, but some of the items date back as far as the mid-19th century. I won’t spoil the surprises in case you want to visit yourself, but there’s an awful lot of fascinating devices crammed into a small room.

I want to call out the curator, who is not only incredibly knowledgable about all the topics covered by the collection, but was happy to take time to answer questions and share his knowledge. It may be a small museum of curiosities, but you end up with a very personal experience, which is the kind of privilege rarely afforded to visitors at larger museums.

You’ll happily spend at least an hour here, if not more. And whether you’re a physicist yourself, or just curious to learn about this era of scientific discovery, then visiting both collections are a must.

If you want to pay a visit, you’re advised to get in contact with the curator via the collection’s website to book an appointment where you’ll also receive a guided tour. You can try your luck and turn up on the off chance it’s open too.