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Department of Engineering |
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Lord Broers gives Reith Lecture
11 March 2005
Last night, Lord Broers gave the second lecture in the BBC's prestigious Reith lecture
series at the Department of Engineering in Cambridge. Lord Broers chose this venue,
because it represents home turf. He studied and conducted his first research in the
Department of Engineering. He later returned to be the Professor of Electrical Engineering
in the Department (1984-96) and then the Head of Department (1993-96), before becoming the
University's Vice Chancellor (1996-2003).
In the five lectures, entitled 'The Triumph of Technology', he sets out his belief that
technology can and should hold the key to the future. In the Cambridge lecture, Lord
Broers showed how collaboration lies at the centre of technological innovation by
insightful references to a series of examples. He explained that the era has passed when
individuals could achieve significant advances while working in isolation. Technology
research needs team work to engage the full spectrum of expertise and if breakthroughs are
to be achieved then very often these teams must be international.
This lecture was delivered to an invited audience of over 300 in the Department of
Engineering's main lecture theatre and relayed to a neighbouring lecture theatre, which
was packed with Department staff and students. It was also transmitted live to the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and recorded by the BBC for later broadcast on Radio
4. The series will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 every Wednesday from 6 April to 4 May at
8.00pm. The Cambridge lecture will be broadcast on 13 April.
Lord Broers was succeeded by Professor David Newland, and then by Professor Keith Glover
as Head of the Department of Engineering. Professor Glover published the Department's new
strategy last year, which features three major themes: engineering for life sciences;
cognitive systems engineering; and sustainable development. Implementation of this
strategy is well underway. It includes the creation of the Centre for Advanced Photonics
and Electronics (CAPE), which embodies the Electrical Engineering Division. Professor Bill
Milne, the Director of CAPE, has worked with his colleagues to secure substantial funding
from the Government for the new laboratory on the West Cambridge Site, strategic partners
from industry, and an exciting portfolio of research projects. CAPE is already up and
running. It will move into its new building at the beginning of 2006.
Lord Broers and Sue Lawley, Reith Lecture |
Lord Broers |
The complete lectures, including a new introduction and conclusion, is now available in paperback from Cambridge University Press
Profile of Lord Broers
BBC Reith lecture website
Department of Engineering strategy
CAPE press release
