Chapter Thirty: Matthew De Clermont's Lecture

All Souls Dorm, 2009

As the early morning sun filtered through the curtains of All Souls Dorm, Margaret, Lauren, and Cemre hurriedly prepared for their first class of the day. The air was filled with excitement and a hint of nervousness.

"Are you ready, Lauren?" Margaret called from the bathroom, where she was applying the last touches of her makeup.

"Almost!" Lauren replied, adjusting her hair in the mirror. She couldn't shake the flutter of anticipation in her stomach. Today was not just the start of a new day; it felt like the beginning of something significant.

Cemre, who was already dressed and waiting, chimed in, "We need to leave soon if we want good seats in the lecture hall. Additionally, I heard that Dr. De Clermont is giving a talk today." Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she mentioned his name.

Lauren turned away from the mirror, her skepticism increasing. "Who's Dr. De Clermont?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Cemre raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the question. "You really don't know? He's a renowned professor of science in his field," she explained, her excitement palpable. "His lectures are always packed, and he has this incredible way of making complex topics accessible. You're going to love him!"

Lauren felt a rush of eagerness, as her earlier flutter of anticipation was now intertwined with a sense of urgency. Let's go then! I don't want to miss a single moment," she replied, grabbing her bag and heading out the door.

Margaret nodded in agreement, her enthusiasm matching Lauren's. "Absolutely! I can't wait to see what he has in store for us!"

The three of them grabbed their bags and left the dorm to head towards the lecture hall.

All Souls Lecture Hall, 2009

As they hurried towards the lecture hall, Matthew turned to Mariam with a curious expression. "Hey, Mariam, why do you want me to give a lecture in Bushar's class? What do you think I can bring to the table?"

Mariam smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Because, Matthew, you have such a unique perspective on the subject! Your insights always make things clearer, and I know the class would benefit from your expertise. Plus, you have a way of engaging everyone, which makes learning so much fun!"

Matthew raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback by her enthusiasm. "Really? You think they'd be interested in what I have to say?"

"Definitely!" she replied, her voice filled with conviction. "You have a talent for explaining complex ideas in a relatable way. I believe your lecture could inspire some great discussions."

Matthew considered her words for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll do the lecture," he said, a hint of a smile forming on his lips.

"But you owe me one for this!" Mariam grinned, knowing that the favor would be worth it. "Deal! I'll make sure to repay you somehow."

With that, the two of them went inside the lecture hall room, ready to engage the audience with Matthew's insights.

Twenty minutes later, all of the students arrived for the lecture. As the last student settled in, Professor Bushar addressed the class.

"Welcome, everyone!" Professor Bushar said, a hint of enthusiasm in her voice. "Today, we have a special guest lecturer joining us." She paused for a moment, allowing the anticipation to build among the students. "Please give a warm welcome to Dr. De Clermont, who will be sharing his insights with us today."

With that introduction, the atmosphere in the lecture hall shifted, and everyone turned their attention to Matthew, eager to learn from his expertise.

Matthew stepped forward, a confident smile on his face as he surveyed the eager faces before him. "Thank you, Professor Bushar, and thank you all for the warm welcome," he began, his voice resonating in the packed room.

"Today, we're going to explore some groundbreaking research that could change the way we understand your field known as alchemy. The scientific side of it."

Margaret raised her hand and asked, "What do you mean by the scientific side of alchemy?"

He paused for a moment, considering her question carefully. "Great question," he replied, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "What I mean is that we will examine the principles and chemical processes underlying traditional alchemical practices, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern science."

Cemre leaned forward, intrigued by Dr. De Clermont's response. "So, you're saying that modern science can help us understand the historical practices of alchemy?"

Dr. De Clermont nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! Alchemy is often thought of as a mystical pursuit, but at its core, it involves a lot of experimentation and observation—principles that are foundational to the scientific method. By analyzing the substances and reactions that alchemists worked with, we can uncover the chemical transformations they were striving for, like the creation of gold from base metals or the search for the philosopher's stone."

Margaret chimed in again, "So, in a way, alchemy laid the groundwork for chemistry?"

"Precisely," Dr. De Clermont affirmed. "Many early alchemists were pioneers in their own right, unknowingly contributing to the development of modern chemistry. These activities included keeping meticulous notes, classifying materials, and exploring the properties of matter, all of which are essential aspects of scientific inquiry.

Lauren asked Dr. De Clermont, "What year was modern science identified with alchemy?"

Dr. De Clermont responded, "Alchemy, often considered a precursor to modern science, began to evolve during the Renaissance period, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries. However, the shift toward what we now recognize as modern science didn't fully occur until the Scientific Revolution, which spanned from the late 16th century to the 18th century. This era saw the establishment of the scientific method and the foundation of disciplines such as chemistry, physics, and biology."

Forty minutes later, Dr. De Clermont finished his lecture. He looked around the room, taking in the attentive faces of his students. "Thank you all for having me here today," he said with a warm smile. "I appreciate your engagement and curiosity about the evolution of modern science. It's always a pleasure to share this knowledge with eager minds."

The class responded with a round of applause, grateful for the insights he had shared.

After Dr. De Clermont wrapped up his lecture, Professor Bushar stepped forward with an announcement. "Thank you, Dr. De Clermont, for that enlightening session. Now, I have some exciting news for all of you. We will be visiting Dr. De Clermont's lab tomorrow to get a closer look at the cutting-edge research being conducted there."

The students exchanged enthusiastic glances, eager for the opportunity to experience firsthand the applications of their studies.

Professor Bushar continued, "This visit will enhance your understanding of biology and inspire you as future scientists." The room buzzed with excitement as the students looked forward to the upcoming visit.

Professor Bushar paused, allowing the excitement in the room to build. "Now, let's wrap things up for today," she said, glancing at the clock. "Remember to prepare your questions for Dr. De Clermont, and don't forget to bring your lab notebooks."

The students nodded, still buzzing with anticipation for the visit. "Alright, class dismissed," she concluded with a smile, watching as the students gathered their belongings and chatted animatedly about the next day's adventure.

After the students left, Diana turned to Dr. De Clermont and said, "Thank you so much for coming today. Your insights were incredibly valuable, and I know the students are excited to learn more from you."

Dr. De Clermont smiled in response, appreciating the warm acknowledgment.

As they wrapped up their conversation, Matthew chimed in, "We'll see you and your class tomorrow at my lab!"

Diana's eyes lit up at the mention of the lab, and she replied, "I can't wait! The students will be thrilled to see the experiments in action." With a sense of anticipation in the air, they all looked forward to a day filled with discovery and learning.

Then, Matthew and Mariam left the room.

After they left, Diana felt a surge of pride for taking the first step toward the reunion between Matthew and Lauren.