Longitude: back and forth across the years

Public event with Lord Martin Rees FRS and Rebekah Higgitt, in partnership with the National Maritime Museum

The search for an accurate measurement of longitude is a fascinating story that transformed seafaring navigation forever. Many designs were submitted after the passing of the Longitude Act in 1714. Two complementary methods were developed that, ultimately, allowed the widespread adoption of the marine chronometer.

Was parliament's decision to offer a reward essential to these innovations? Are there lessons to be drawn about how we support science and technology? As the Royal Museum Greenwich open their exhibition Ships, Clocks & Stars about the quest for longitude, exhibition curator Rebekah Higgitt and Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees explore these and other questions whilst discussing the impacts of the Act over the last 300 years and what the future may bring from the discoveries of NESTA’s newly launched 2014 Longitude Prize.

This event will be followed by a late opening of Ships, Clocks & Stars.

The discussion will be chaired by UK Space Agency research Fellow, Dr. Lewis Dartnell.

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