Laurent also saw Carlo's expectation and urgency regarding the construction of the Royal Institute for Science. After receiving the order fr
Laurent also saw Carlo's expectation and urgency regarding the construction of the Royal Institute for Science. After receiving the order fr
Laurent also saw Carlo's expectation and urgency regarding the construction of the Royal Institute for Science.
After receiving the order from Carlo, Laurent immediately began planning the school's location and undertaking some preliminary preparatory work.
The Royal Institute for Science would definitely be built around Madrid, so the location was naturally set in the outskirts of Madrid.
The good news was that there was a place on the outskirts of Madrid where a private university had once been built, but it had eventually gone bankrupt. The buildings there could still be used after repairs, and with the addition of some laboratories, it could basically meet the initial needs of a university.
Although Carlo held high expectations for the Royal Institute for Science, he didn't expect it to become a world-renowned science university within the first few years of its construction.
Carlo's expectation was that within five years, the Royal Institute for Science would be able to stably cultivate over 500 talents in physics and chemistry every year.
Through accumulation, Spain could still make up a considerable gap in talent reserves, at least so that certain research areas wouldn't be as short on personnel as they were now.
After entrusting the construction of the Royal Institute for Science to Laurent, Carlo's attention turned to how to select a suitable dean for the Royal Institute for Science.
Considering that Laurent was relatively busy, Carlo assigned the task of selecting suitable candidates from Spain to serve as the institute's dean to Carter.
Carter did not disappoint Carlo's trust. After a week of investigation, he submitted a specific list of candidates to Carlo.
"Jose Echegaray?" Carlo looked at the name on the list, feeling a slight impression, but unable to recall it clearly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Mr. Echegaray was born in Madrid and has Basque ancestry. He currently works at the Madrid Academy of Precision Sciences, and has published 'Theory of the Physical Unity of Material Forces Now' and 'Problems in Analytic Geometry'. His teaching ability is considered outstanding in Spain," Carter explained.
Carlo nodded, looking at the detailed information about Echegaray.
From the current investigation results, although Echegaray had Basque ancestry, he was born and raised in Madrid and was more supportive of the Spanish Kingdom Government's rule.
From this point alone, Echegaray already possessed a certain advantage. Appointing him as the dean of the institute would also let the Basque people understand that Carlo's attitude towards the Spanish and the Basque people was consistent, and the Spanish would not exclude the existence of the Basque people.
As he read, Carlo finally remembered who Echegaray was. Echegaray was quite famous in Spain; he was one of the few Spanish Nobel laureates, and he was also the first person from Spain to receive a Nobel Prize.
But the problem was, in Carlo's memory, all of Spain's Nobel laureates had nothing to do with physics or chemistry; Echegaray seemed to have won his award in literature.
For a talent in literature to serve as the dean of a physics and chemistry institute, wasn't this a bit too strange?
"Jose Echegaray?" Carlo asked with some surprise, "If I remember correctly, wasn't he also the Director General of Public Works during the provisional Government?
Are you sure he is more suitable to serve as the dean of the Royal Institute for Science?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Carter quickly explained, "Although Echegaray often writes for 'The Economist', 'La Verdad', and even our 'Spanish Sun', his university major was indeed mathematics.
I can only say that Mr. Echegaray's hobby in literature is no less significant than his achievements in mathematics, but he is currently more renowned for his work in mathematics and municipal engineering."
Carlo nodded, dispelling the surprise in his heart.
If Echegaray came from a mathematics background, then it wasn't strange for him to serve as the dean of a physics and chemistry institute. After all, subjects like mathematics are closely related to physics and chemistry; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are, to a certain extent, inseparable.
With his surprise gone, Carlo couldn't help but feel some admiration for Echegaray. To have significant achievements in mathematics, public engineering, and literature simultaneously, in later generations, would at least be the level of excelling in both arts and sciences.
Although he didn't win any major awards in mathematics, his mathematics teaching career was quite famous in Spain.
And his hobby in literature even earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature, one of the highest awards in arts and sciences in later generations.
It's truly not an exaggeration to praise him as excelling in both arts and sciences. Considering that in history, he also successively held Government positions such as Minister of Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Public Education, Echegaray can be considered one of the few versatile talents in Spain.
Looking at Echegaray and then at the other candidates on the list, the gap was already apparent.
Currently, Spain does not have many top talents in physics and chemistry, and those suitable to serve as the dean of a physical chemistry institute are even fewer.
Among the numerous candidates, Echegaray was indeed the more suitable choice, both in terms of resume and personal ability.
Rubbing his forehead, Carlo finally made a decision: "The candidate for the dean of the Royal Institute for Science is tentatively set as Echegaray. Have him come to see me tomorrow.
The construction of the institute can be completed as early as next year, and I hope the organization's work for the institute can also proceed early. As it concerns Spain's key talent cultivation, the sooner the institute is organized, the better."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Carter nodded and went to inform Echegaray.
Speaking of which, Echegaray's life had also undergone some changes due to Carlo's interference.
Historically, Echegaray should have been serving as a Minister in the Spanish Government during this period, but now, because Prime Minister Primo was not assassinated, the Spanish Government had not changed much compared to before. Apart from serving as an official like the Director General of Public Works during the provisional Government, Echegaray had not been heavily involved in politics.
Although the soon-to-be-established Royal Institute for Science dean did not have an administrative rank, this did not mean that his influence was not high.
If he could gain Carlo's trust and complete his term as the institute's dean, he would certainly still have the opportunity to enter politics.
Moreover, the talents cultivated by the Royal Institute for Science were more likely to enter the Royal Academy of Sciences, and even be granted noble titles through their scientific research.
If that day truly came, the influence of the Royal Institute for Science dean would further increase, and it would be even easier to enter politics.
Early the next morning, Echegaray arrived at the palace to request an audience with Carlo.
Carlo had just gotten up and was washing up with the help of a maid when he heard the guard's report that Echegaray had been waiting for a long time.
Feeling a bit amused by Echegaray's early arrival, Carlo decided to invite Echegaray to have breakfast together and discuss the future construction of the Royal Institute for Science.
As he was led by the guard to Carlo's favorite small dining room, Echegaray felt a little uneasy.
Although he was born and raised in Madrid and had achieved considerable success in his teaching career, being invited to have breakfast with the King was a first.
In fact, let alone having breakfast together, even meeting the King privately was a first. Although he was quite supportive of the Spanish Government, Queen Isabella wouldn't be interested in someone involved in academia.
"Your Majesty!" The moment he saw Carlo, Echegaray performed a standard Spanish courtesy towards Carlo, greeting him somewhat nervously.
"Good morning, Mr. Echegaray." Carlo nodded, signaling Echegaray to sit down and speak.
As a supporter of the Spanish Government, Echegaray was both nervous and excited about meeting the King. After feeling Carlo's amiable and approachable attitude, Echegaray's mood also relaxed a little, and he wasn't as nervous anymore.
"Mr. Echegaray, Carter has already told you my decision, hasn't he?" Carlo asked with a smile.
Carlo was quite willing to show an amiable attitude towards talents he could use.
For Carlo, the identity of the King was his best trump card for attracting talent. When a King showed an amiable and approachable attitude, let alone talents born in monarchical countries, even those who grew up under republican ideals would find it impossible not to be moved.
"Mr. Carter has already told me, Your Majesty. It is my honor to serve as the dean of the Royal Institute for Science. I will do my best to build the Royal Institute for science and live up to Your Majesty's trust," Echegaray nodded, speaking with great gratitude and honor.
An ordinary physics and chemistry institute was not as attractive to Echegaray. But if the word 'Royal' was added, the attraction to Echegaray soared.
Serving as the dean of the Royal Institute for Science was not only a resume builder, but it also allowed Echegaray to enter Carlo's view.
If he did well as the institute's dean, there might be further possibilities in the future. Although the Spanish Cabinet was appointed by the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister was elected by the House of Representatives.
But for Carlo, as the King of Spain, if he wanted to promote someone, it wasn't difficult to help them enter politics.
"Mr. Echegaray, do you have any plans for the construction of the Royal Institute for Science?" Carlo nodded, smiling as he presented his test.
Although serving as the dean of the Royal Institute for science did not require the most top-notch knowledge reserves, one at least had to be proficient in the operation of an institute and know Carlo's purpose.
Comparing the physics and chemistry institute to a company, the dean, as the company's manager, must have a reasonable development plan for the entire company and satisfy the company's behind-the-scenes shareholder, Carlo, with the company's development plan.