Future Labs

Synopsis

The three programmes in this series tell the stories of the small groups of research scientists whose inventions in the fields of communications and computing, transport, materials and medicine, changed the world and gave us the modern technologies we enjoy today. Each programme looks at the ‘glory days’ of the lab and then brings the story up to date, paying particular attention to how science is managed in these much more commercially competitive days. Presented by David Robertson.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2005

Year of production

2003

Notes

Broadcast in 3 parts on Radio 4 from 5/6/2003

Subjects

Science; Technology

Keywords

inventions; scientific research; telecommunications; research laboratories; Cavendish laboratory; Telecommunications Research Establishment; Bell laboratories

Online availability

URI

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/futurelabs.shtml

Price

free

Delivery

Streamed

Sections

Title

Boffins, The

Synopsis

The first programme in the series is about the evolution of a lab which started during WW2 and has gone on to become a 7000 strong R&D business, one of Europe’s biggest. In its first incarnation the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) developed radar during WW2 and went on to lay the foundations for the information age. The story of TRE is the story of the scientists who helped save Britain from ruinous bombing and invasion and went on to invent computers and air traffic control, modern meteorology, liquid crystal display and the microwave oven. Includes interviews with scientists who remember those times, including Sir Bernard Lovell.

The story is brought up to date with the new role for the lab as the business called QinetiQ. While the defence industry is still a major customer, the lab’s funding has been dramatically reduced and it must now attract commercial and civil customers. The lab is trying to harness the creativity of its employees, give them the freedom to invent and follow their research interests and still make money.

Duration

30 mins

Title

End of the Line?

Synopsis

The second programme looks at the Bell Laboratories in the USA, birthplace of the transistor, satellite communication and the mobile phone. David Robertson finds out how a once wealthy lab is weathering the storm of deregulation, stock-market collapse and scientific scandal.

Duration

30 mins

Title

Cavendish, The

Synopsis

The Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, famous for pioneering work on the nature of matter, splitting the atom, the beginnings of the universe and the discovery of DNA, is the subject of this final programme.

Duration

30 mins

Production Company

Name

BBC Radio 4

Web

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 External site opens in new window