On the 23rd of January, Head of School of Physics confirmed that the School of Physics will recommend to Trinity's provost that the Schrodinger Lecture Theatre be renamed (check link to University Times article discussing this!). Until the Provost confirms the rename, the petition will be left open. 

I would now like to thank the students and staff who supported this petition, and brought it to the school's attention. I'd also like to thank the class reps who polled physics students' opinions, the School of Physics for taking swift action, and their nuanced and thoughtful approach addressing it. And finally, thanks to all those who signed, shared and discussed! 

I would also like quickly to note a mistake in this petition's info. The Schrodinger lecture theatre is simply a lecture hall in the Fitzgerald building, not an 'entire building', which I mistakingly wrote down. Apologies for this. 

Headphys email: 

Dear Staff (current and retired) and Students of the School of Physics,

The School Executive met on Thursday, 20 January 2022 to consider how the School should proceed following the Irish Times article of 11 December 2021 on Erwin Schrödinger.

A summary of the feedback that was gathered from both staff and students since the article was published was considered. This feedback came from different sources:

-Written feedback from staff following an invitation to comment by the Head of School
-Opinions expressed at a staff meeting earlier in the week
-Written feedback to the HoS from PG students
-Results of a survey conducted by the UG convenor including comments/feedback
 

It was noted that the majority of people had not been aware of and were shocked by the reported details of Schrödinger’s personal life and sexual history. Some feedback stressed the psychological impact that his reported actions had on the reader.

There was a diversity of opinion on how the School and College should react but it was clear that a large majority of both staff and students now favour changing the name the lecture theatre in the Fitzgerald Building that has borne his name since the 1990s.  A number of suggestions for alternative names were made. These suggestions included the ‘What is Life? Theatre’ and the ‘Walton Theatre’ or that it should be named for a female physicist.

On the basis of the opinion of the majority, the School Executive has decided to recommend to the Provost (and the College) to change the name of the theatre. It was also decided that, pending a formal decision by the College, the signage and pictures of Erwin Schrödinger should be removed or covered up in the interim.

It was decided not to propose naming the theatre after another person at this time and to revert to the original name ‘Physics Lecture Theatre’. Naming it for another person could well be seen as a tainted honour after it had been previously been named for such a controversial person as Schrödinger. However, it was noted that, in the future, the school might decide it was time to consider naming the theatre after a person.

The Executive also considered how the historical events of the ‘What is Life?’ lectures (1943) should be commemorated or marked. It was noted that the lectures was held under the auspices of DIAS and that the School never had any direct association with Schrödinger and that he never held any appointment or office in Physics or in Trinity College Dublin. (Recent reports in social media to the contrary are false.)

It was decided that there should be a notice mounted in the room recording the fact that at least one of Schrödinger’s 1943 ‘What is Life?’ lectures was given in the theatre. The School will seek advice on the appropriate presentation of the historical and scientific impact of the lectures and, in particular, how to address Schrödinger’s personal actions and the history of the School’s and Trinity’s celebrations of the lectures and the man including the renaming of the theatre for Schrödinger. It is yet to be decided where these issues would be presented and all options will be explored e.g. on the School website or in an information panel or poster in the room itself.

It was also decided that it would be inappropriate to continue with the annual  ‘Schrödinger Lecture’ series that was instituted by the then Faculty of Science in 1995 in conjunction with the Austrian Embassy and which has been run by the School (on the Trinity side) for the past 15 years or so. Since a number of people have suggested that a ‘What is Life? series could be instituted instead, it was agreed that the Head of School consult with the Dean of the Faculty and other Schools to see if they would be interested in running such a series as the name would seem inappropriate for a physics series.

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