Mrs. Casey and Mrs. Wilson took a group of high school students to Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum for the Faraday Lecture, which is sponsored by the Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (SACP) and the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh (SSP). Funding for the Faraday Lecture comes from Pittcon, a yearly conference and exposition serving the broad field of laboratory science.

The SACP/SSP is dedicated to furthering science education in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.

The namesake for the Faraday Lecture is Michael Faraday. Michael Faraday was a British scientist who lived in the early to mid-1800’s. Although he had little formal education Mr. Faraday was one of the most influential scientists in history. Even today he is recognized as a top scientist.

As a physicist he discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction and diamagnetism, and the laws of electrolysis. As a chemist he discovered benzene and an early form of the Bunsen burner as well as several other accomplishments.

During the time of Faraday there was very little organized education for young people. In 1825 Faraday started Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Faraday and other prominent people gave lectures on different scientific topics. These lectures continue to this day.