Countdown to Christmas: The science of Star Trek

It’s just over 60 years since Star Trek first appeared on our (black and white) television screens!  It was a ground-breaking programme that took us in to the 23rd century, but how well did it predict the future of our lives?  This year’s Christmas lecture will be a light-hearted look at Star Trek to see just how the future has been predicted both by engineers and by science-fiction writers, and which of them got it right.  There will be audience participation as the speaker guides you through the world of science fiction, and how surprisingly accurately this one television series foretold the world that we live in today.  Nuclear? Not Really.  (Di)Lithium – Yes please!  Come and be surprised at how well the future was envisioned sixty years ago, and in some cases how badly, and reflect on the abilities that engineers will need to create the future in the next 60 years.

About the speaker

Richard Baker BSc CEng MIET is a chartered electrical engineer who has worked in rail vehicle systems for over 20 years, following some 20 years in the fire detection and security industry. He was most recently part of the team developing the patent-pending next generation battery-powered versions of the Class 230 train and has been closely involved in system design, safety, and testing.  The prototype train is now in passenger service trial with GWR.

Richard grew up in the 1960s watching classic TV series such as Thunderbirds, Star Trek, Lost in Space, Doctor Who, among many others.  He has always been fascinated by the way the future was depicted in these series, and how the world we live in today sometimes very closely mirrors some of those depictions, and in other ways is completely different.