The invisible college of Oxford University

This video provides a fascinating exploration of a somewhat mysterious ‘invisible’ college of the past based in Oxford. Its formal name was the Oxford Philosophical Club and most of its meetings took place in Oxford University’s Wadham College when John Wilkins was the Warden of that Oxford College during the English Civil War of the 17th century. The club’s main interest was in experimental science and many of its members are still remembered for their inventions and discoveries. Here are some of the better known members of this fascinating society: Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, William Petty, Thomas Willis and John Wallis. Their interest spanned mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, mechanics, microscopy, astronomy and more. They changed our understanding of the physical world and were founders of the Royal Society, the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence in the world.