This conference will examine the physical history of navigation, beginning with how ancient civilisations navigated by the stars and other celestial bodies, then considering navigation by land, sea and air using various instruments (prior to modern technology) and concluding with the developments in modern technology for navigation including in space.

Programme for the day

Morning Chair:
10:30-10:40 Welcome
10:40-11:30 Professor Joseph Caruana (University of Malta) – Celestial Navigation in Ancient Times
11:30-12:20 Dr Jane Wess (formerly University of Edinburgh) – A History of Land Navigation Instruments Before the Digital Era
12:20-13:15 Daisy Chamberlain (Royal Museums Greenwich) – Navigating the Oceans Before Modern Technology
13:15-14:15 Lunch Break

Afternoon Chair:
14:15-15:05 Susan Lindsay (Army Flying Museum) – Willy-Nilly Misbehaviour: Navigation in the Early Years of Aviation
15:05-16:00 Professor Cathryn Mitchell (University of Bath) – Radio Navigation: From LORAN to GPS
16:00-16:30 Tea/Coffee Break
16:30-17:00 Summary of the day’s proceedings – Professor Marek Ziebart (Royal Institute of Navigation and UCL)

There will be a conference dinner at St Cross College in the evening following the end of the conference with an after-dinner talk by Professor Richard Holland (Bangor University) on navigation by animals, birds and fish. Booking to attend the conference dinner can be made at the booking link below.