Following successful meetings in 2010 and 2012, Royal Museums Greenwich and the Royal Institute of Navigation are planning a third symposium to bring together current research in the history of navigation. 2014 sees the centenary of the beginning of the First World War. While this conflict provided a powerful stimulus for research and development in navigation, technological developments have also sprung from users and from commercial imperatives.

Argument

Following successful meetings in 2010 and 2012, Royal Museums Greenwich and the Royal Institute of Navigation are planning a third symposium to bring together current research in the history of navigation.

2014 sees the centenary of the beginning of the First World War. While this conflict provided a powerful stimulus for research and development in navigation, technological developments have also sprung from users and from commercial imperatives. Indeed 2014 is also the 100th anniversary of the daredevil Lawrence “gyro” Sperry’s demonstration of the aircraft autopilot in Paris. These two centenaries offer the opportunity to reflect on how experiences and ideas about movement and navigation have been shaped through conflict and commerce. Home of world-class collections in the fields of time, navigation, astronomy, cartography, and nautical technology, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, UK, invites historians and practitioners to examine the history of these ‘ideas in movement’ from the Armada to the present day.

Possible themes might include, but would not be restricted to: ·

• The role of the War in the development of navigational technology whether the Seven Years’ War, the Cold War or other conflicts
• The development of maps, charts and related navigational techniques in the two World Wars
• The role of risk and strategy in navigation history
• Conflict and commerce in navigation apps and e-navigation

Submission guidelines

Proposals for papers on these and related themes are now being sought. It is anticipated that speaking slots will be of about 25 minutes, including time for questions.

To propose a paper, or for further information, please send the title and abstract (approximately 200 words) to: Research Administrator Royal Museums, Greenwich Romney Road London SE10 9NF
Tel 020 8312 6716 Fax 020 8312 6592

by Monday 30th September 2013 

The symposium will be hold in National Maritime Museum, London Thursday-Friday 3-4 April 2014

Scientific committee

• Dr Heloise Finch-Boyer, Curator of Science & Technology, National Maritime Museum
• Dr Richard Dunn, Senior Curator of Navigation, National Maritime Museum
• Terry Hayward, Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation