2025: Illumination – John W. Allen and the LED

Struan Watson

From Tuesday 9 December.

poster with match and materials on a grey background

What’s your wavelength?

The University of St Andrews holds some of the world’s first practical LEDs, made and designed by John W. Allen. In 2024, the University Collections acquired scientific equipment and teaching material used by Allen for LED-based research while he worked at St Andrews.

To mark the foundation of the John W. Allen Collection, the University commissioned and acquired two artworks by Glasgow-based artist Rachel Adams.

Come along to the research studio to see two never-seen-before artworks: Case Study, and The Professor’s Dream.

The commission and acquisition have been generously supported by the Harry and Margery Boswell Collection Fund.