Initial contacts

Walther Nernst realizes that the Council must take place on neutral ground.

Walther Nernst is intent on remaining in the background: the Council has to be convened by a ‘non-German’ figure foreign to his professional field. Ernest Solvay comes to mind, the leading Belgian industrialist and patron of science whom he met in 1899.

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Ernest Solvay (1838-1922)

Ernest Solvay was a Belgian manufacturer and philanthropist, and inventor of the ‘Solvay process’ (for the industrial manufacture of sodium carbonate). He actively supported scientific research.

http://bib56.ulb.ac.be/uploads/r/null/b/8/0/b80f488f3123db5ad6b22f8d9ab1dff40930b3cb3195511813ad37bc236772e6/Solvay_1_1688.pdf

Lettre de Walther Nernst à Ernest Solvay, 26 juillet 1910 + en annexe : « Einladung zu einem Concile scientifique internationale (sic) pour élucider quelques questions d'actualité de la théorie cinétique » (original)

Document sent by Walther Nernst to Ernest Solvay, requesting him to sign the letters of invitation.

http://bib56.ulb.ac.be/uploads/r/null/a/7/c/a7c54a35d42839125da3a88c80d45c765cac10a3a070745e6aee675fc59d8c7d/Solvay_1_1690-corr.pdf

Lettre d'Ernest Solvay à Walther Nernst + retranscription dactylographiée, 7 décembre 1910

Ernest Solvay reacts to Walther Nernst’s request to associate him with the discussions of the 1911 Conference.