Celebration of Science – Science and War

As part of the Royal Borough’s commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, this series of talks and debates will range over issues such as the:

•  kinetics of destruction; technology and innovation
•  role of mathematics and the interpretation of data
•  war and public health from the First World War to NATO
•  use of sea power, and
•  role of the nuclear deterrent.

The session will be led by:

•  Professor David Egerton, Hans Rausing Professor of the History of Science and Technology at King’s College London.
•  Professor Nicholas Bosanque on public health, smoking and the First World War.
•  Sir Hew Strachan FBA, Chichele Professor of the History of War, All Souls College Oxford on how new technology has transformed recent warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan.
•  Air Vice Marshall Peter Dye, Director of the RAF Museum, on the interrogation of mathematical data – from the First World War to Vietnam and NATO: the Anglo-American contribution to warfare.
•  Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Labour Security Minister on sea power and the role and purpose of the nuclear deterrent.