2008 Marconi Symposium and Award Dinner
A "Royal"
Affair to be held in London
The 2008
Symposium and Award Dinner and festivities - four days of exciting public activities - will take place in and around London,
starting on September 24th. The marquee events, the Marconi Symposium and Award
Dinner, are scheduled for Friday, September 26th at the Royal Society.
The U.K. is a perfect host city for the first
non-American venue since September 2004 (Bologna,
Italy)
because it is home not only to the 2008 Marconi Fellow, David Payne, but also
to some of the best collections of Marconi memorabilia. The Society also gratefully
acknowledges the assistance of Marconi Fellow Sir Eric Ash in planning and coordinating
the many events that will take place - especially in securing the legendary
private Royal Society, founded in 1660.
Those
planning to attend also will have the opportunity to participate in a number of
tours and other entertaining activities, including a lunch cruise on the River Thames; a docent-led visit to the Imperial War Museum
which features an extensive library of war-related
books and recorded interviews plus a remarkable collection of war memorabilia and
equipment; a visit to the world's first codebreaking center, Bletchley Park,
with a private tour of Marconi memorabilia and comments by one of the world's leading
authorities on encryption history; a private-capsule ride on the popular "London
Eye" (also known as the Millenium Wheel); and a National Theatre performance of "War Horse."
In order to
secure adequate space, tickets and lock in current prices, we need your
registration for all events by September 20th.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Wednesday, September 24
London Eye
Begin four days of exciting events with a bird's eye view of London
in a private capsule at the London "Eye." Also known as the Millennium Wheel, the "Eye" is the
tallest (443 ft) ferris wheel in Europe. It is also the most popular paid tourist
attraction in the UK
visited by over 3 million people a year.
10:00 to 11:00 am, cost $40 for the all-day
use of the bus, and $40 for the "Eye."
Lunch Cruise on the River Thames
Next, enjoy a two hour cruise on the picturesque River
Thames while viewing dozens of famous London
landmarks. A three-course lunch will be
served on board this luxury vessel -- what a wonderful, relaxing way to enjoy
the city and visit with friends!
12:00
noon to 2:00 pm, cost $75.
Imperial War Museum Tour
Following lunch, join us for a
docent-led tour of the Imperial
War Museum,
which was founded in 1917 to record the story of the Great War and the contributions
made by the British people. It features military vehicles,
weapons, war memorabilia, an extensive library, a large collection of compelling
oral recordings from people who were affected by this war, and an exhibit on
the Voices of the Holocaust.
3:00 to 5:00 pm, cost $15
Welcome Dinner (Board, Fellows/Spouses and
Special Guests Only)
This
dinner will be held at the renowned Garrick
Club, founded in 183l, located in
the heart of London's West
End and a favorite of theatre afficianados worldwide. Displayed throughout the Club is a remarkable
collection of art representing the history of
the theater, including over 1000 paintings, drawings and sculptures, a
fascinating selection of theatrical memorabilia, plus various theatrical
artifacts.
7:00
to 9:30 pm, complimentary; but advance reservations mandatory
Thursday, September 25
Bletchley Park
Board the Marconi bus for Bletchley Park, the world's first large-scale
codebreaking center, located in an ornate Victorian mansion that was headquarters
to the intelligence staff. The World War
I intelligence collaboration between Britain
and America
laid the foundation for today's close relationship. It has the world's first large-scale program-controlled
electronic digital computer and the world's first encrypted Internet. Bletchley
Park is located on 28 garden
acres, and lunch will be served in the Ballroom of the Mansion. After lunch, Director Simon Greenish will
lead a tour of Marconi memorabilia. David Kahn, author of "The Codebreakers"
will make some "inside" comments.
10:00
am to 3:00 pm, cost $40 bus for day, $50 lunch and museum.
American
Embassy
The American Ambassador, Robert
Tuttle, has invited us to join some of the Embassy staff for a reception in the
Grand Hall in honor of the Marconi Society.
The Embassy is located in the center of the city on Grosvenor Square in Mayfield. The US
has been associated with Grosvenor
Square since the late 18th century when
John Adams, who later became president, was the first US minister to
the Court of St. James.
5:00
to 6:00 pm, complimentary.
Performance and Dinner at the National Theatre
In the evening,
enjoy a new production of Michael Morpurgo's acclaimed novel, "War Horse" at the National
Theatre. This will be the hottest ticket in town,
and we were able to get seats before they went on sale to the general public. We
have reserved tables for dinner, which will be served at the theater following
the play.
7:30
to 9:30 pm, play cost $85; dinner follows, cost $45.
Friday, September 26
Marconi Symposium, Optical Communications -- "What Next?"
The Symposium, organized by David
Payne, the 2008 Marconi Award Winner, will be held at the Royal Society. It will include presentations from world
experts on the status of the optical global internet today, including the
technology expected to create the next-generation backbone superhighway needed
to propel the continuing explosive growth of the Internet. The Royal Society was founded in 1660, and its
Fellowship includes many of the world's leading scientists. We are collaborating with several major
organizations to host the Symposium, including the University of Southampton,
the Fondazione Marconi, Ericsson, and British Telecom.
9:30
am to 4:30 pm, complimentary.
Marconi Award Dinner (By Invitation Only) - FULL Wait List Only
The Award Dinner will also be held at the Royal Society, beginning with
cocktails on the terrace overlooking St. James' Park. The $100,000 Marconi Award will be presented
to David Payne, an internationally distinguished research leader in fiber
optoelectronics and the Director of the Optoelectronics
Research Center
at the University
of Southampton. The Award will be presented by Lord Alec
Broers, past President of Cambridge University and immediate past President of
the Royal Academy of Engineering, and current Chair of the House of Lords
Committee on Science and Technology.
Also honored will be the four Marconi
Young Scholars from Columbia
University, MIT, Stanford
and UCLA.
7:00
to 10:00 pm, complimentary.
Saturday, September 27
Events for Board and Committee Members Only:
Selection Advisory Committee - Chaired by Jim Massey, the Committee will meet at the
Cavendish Hotel, Nimbus Room, to select next year's 2009 Marconi Prize Winner.
8:00
to 9:00 am (Committee members only, includes Continental breakfast)
Strategic Planning Committee - Chaired by Rosalind Whitehead, the Committee will meet at
the same time, in the Stratus Room at the Cavendish Hotel.
8:00
to 9:00 am (Committee members only, includes Continental breakfast).
Board of Trustees - Chaired by Bob Lucky, the annual meeting of the Board of
Trustees, will follow the above meetings, also in the Stratus Room at
the Cavendish Hotel.
9:00
am to 11:00 am (Board members only, includes Continental breakfast)
Events Open to Additional Participants:
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
Following the Board meeting, we will board a private bus to the Bodleian
Library, University of Oxford.
Opened in 1602, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe We will start with lunch,
and then visit the Bodleian Library, where Richard Ovenden, Director of Special
Collections, will lead a private tour. We will see many of Marconi's
private papers, diaries, and documents.
11:30 to 5:30 pm, $40 bus
for the day, $50 for lunch.
The Farewell Dinner (Board,
Fellows/Spouses and Special Guests Only)
This last event will conveniently take place in
our elegant four-star Hotel, the Cavendish, set in one of the most prestigious
locations in London. We will
meet in the Electra Room, the ultimate in luxury.
7:00 to 10 pm, complimentary, but advance reservations mandatory
