From Archives to Modern Lives: Frontiers of Trade and Technology
A survey of past and present innovation in association with King’s College London Archives, Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Surprisingly for some, London is, and almost always has been, a science city. From the Gresham College days of the Tudor ‘New Learning’, Francis Bacon, the foundation of the Royal Society and on to the Industrial Revolution, genetics and even ‘fintech’, London has been at least as much about science & technology as it has been about trade & finance.
The World Traders had a wonderful day indeed. Our main event, from 15:00 to 17:30, consisted of fully-illustrated presentations by six distinguished speakers, each at the very top of his or her own area of expertise. They referenced key objects of lasting scientific importance from King’s College London.
We handled numerous artefacts ranging from the original Wheatstone Telegraph of 1837 to the original DNA photo, “Photo 51”, to Barbara Cartland and Ted Hughes and Alan Ginsburg materials. Dr Brian May (yes, of Queen!) is an enormous fan of stereoscopy, heading up The London Stereoscopic Company http://www.londonstereo.com/, and created a 3D film for us. It feels like serious Livery one-up-person-ship that we can brag, “as we wore our 3D glasses Dr May leaped out from the screen to ‘Greet the Worshipful Company of World Traders’”.
The reception and dinner were on the eighth floor of Bush House in Aldwych (a building recently taken over by KCL, previously occupied by the BBC) with dramatic views from the City to Wesminster.
Wheatstone’s Cryptographs and Cipher
The full programme:
15:00 for 15:15 Reception, 1st Floor, Bush House, 101 (Auditorium)
15:15 – 15:30 Welcome
Deborah Bull, Assistant Principal King’s College London
Introduction
Dr Jessica Borge & Dr Geoff Browell
15:30 – 16:15 Computer Code
Artefact: Wheatstone’s Cryptographs and Cipher Post/ Telegraph TBC
Dr Jamie Barras
Professor Mischa Dohler
16:15 – 17:00 Life Code
Artefact: Photograph 51 TBC
Professor David Edgerton
Professor Karen Steel
17:00 – 17:45 Visual Code
Artefact: Wheatstone’s Stereoscope TBC
Denis Pellerin
Professor Reza Razavi
17:45 – 18:00 Concluding Remarks
Dr Geoff Browell
18:00 – 19:00 Drinks, 8th Floor, Bush House (South)
19:00 – 21:30 Dinner, 8th Floor, Bush House (North)
Guest Speaker: Dr Carina Fearnley