'People don't realise how rare our Einstein blackboard is'

The blackboard used by Albert Einstein is the only one believed to be in existence with his signature

Academics are looking for ways to widely showcase what is thought to be the only blackboard in the world signed by Albert Einstein after it has spent decades sitting in a staff meeting room.

The blackboard, used by the physicist during a University of Nottingham guest lecture, is said to be one of only three Einstein blackboards at education establishments around the world, and the only one that bears his signature.

Dr Emma Chapman, from the university, said sharing the artefact had become her "passion project", and she would like it to be moved to a more prominent position.

"I don't think people have quite understood how rare the blackboard is until very recently," she said.

"It's essentially priceless. We're trying to make sure people know we have it and think of ways people can best enjoy it," Dr Chapman, outreach coordinator for physics and astronomy at the university, added.

"We're very passionate here in the physics department about keeping it within our community and within our building [instead of a museum]."

Einstein gave a lecture to an "enthralled" crowd at the University of Nottingham in 1930

Einstein's visit to the University of Nottingham on 6 June 1930 was arranged by Prof Henry Brose, who led the physics department from 1927 to 1936.

He became friends with Einstein after he translated various physics books from German to English and promoted Einstein's theories in England.

Prof Brose made a number of attempts to persuade the physicist to visit Nottingham.

He finally agreed after he was invited to another guest lecture at Oxford University.

Einstein was offered accommodation at the home of Prof Frank Granger, vice-principal at the University of Nottingham, and wrote in a letter he would be arriving "completely alone".

Dr Emma Chapman wants more people to be aware of the blackboard

And when Einstein did arrive, he was late because he had insisted on making a trip to Woolsthorpe in Lincolnshire, to see the childhood home of scientist Sir Isaac Newton, who first identified the effects of gravity.

During his lecture, which he delivered in German, Einstein wrote notes and theories on the blackboard - both his own and other scientists, which were translated into English by Prof Brose.

A 1930 article by the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts reported he spoke with a "curious childlike, timid expression" that gave the impression of greatness without a "commanding voice".

The blackboard was not the only piece of history left by Einstein during his visit.

Einstein visited Sir Isaac Newton's childhood home during the visit

He signed a 1713 first edition of Newton's book, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, which was owned by Prof Granger.

The chalk he used to write on the blackboard initially disappeared after it was stolen by an eager student and snapped in half.

The student kept one half and the other was given to a journalist at the Nottingham Journal, who returned it to the university on the 50th anniversary of Einstein's lecture.

The university also has a number of newspaper clippings on Einstein's visit, and handwritten letters, in addition to Newton's signed book, the chalk and blackboard.

In addition to the signature, Einstein wrote theories and notes on the blackboard during his lecture

The university is looking into ideas on how best to display the blackboard, including placing it in the foyer of the physics building or in a classroom where students can work on their own equations alongside it.

The chalk marks on the blackboard have, however, faded over time, despite the fact the blackboard is behind glass.

Dr Chapman said it would be appraised by an expert to make sure it could be protected before it was moved anywhere.

"We certainly don't want to move it until someone has looked at it and said 'yeah that's good'," she added.

"We're trying to figure out what it needs, what to do with it and how to even take it off the wall safely.

"If we could put it in a Perspex box to guarantee it for the next century, that would be absolutely fabulous.

"It's been with us for 95 years and we want it to be with us for 95 more."

Chalk, which was stolen after being used by Einstein, was returned 50 years after the lecture