Lord Broers on Radio 4

The lecture was given at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, a familiar territory for Lord Broers who studied and conducted his first research in the Department. He later returned to be 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 and explained that the era has passed when individuals could achieve significant advances while working in isolation. Technology research needs teamwork to engage the full spectrum of expertise and if breakthroughs are to be achieved then very often these teams must be international.

"I have chosen technology as the subject of my Reith Lectures because it is exciting and fast moving and because it shapes our lives. I have spent my life creating technology and it is a huge privilege to be given this chance to explain its importance," said Lord Broers.

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, packed with Department staff and students. It was also transmitted live to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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.

BBC radio 4 which can be found on: 92 - 95 FM, 198 LW, DAB Digital Radio, Freeview Channel 74, Sky Channel 854, Digital Cable TV, Radio 4 live internet stream http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4. You can listen again or read a full transcript at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2005/schedule