Call for papers for Watt conference

The bicententenary of the death of Scottish engineering genius James Watt at his home Heathfield House in Handsworth is to be commemorated with a conference at the University of Birmingham in August 2019

James Watt

The University of Birmingham is hosting a three-day conference about inventor James Watt.

“Rethinking James Watt (1736-1819): Innovation, Culture and Legacy” will run from the evening of Friday, August 30 and conclude on Sunday, September 1.

It will start just a few days after the 200th anniversary of Watt’s death.

Full details, including conference fees, have still to be finalised. However, the University has now issued a “call for papers”, for speakers interested in taking part in the conference.

Download early conference information in Microsoft Word format here.

Dr Malcolm Dick from the University said: “This conference seeks to consider the diverse influences that shaped Watt’s experiences in Scotland and Birmingham. One underlying theme is to look at Watt the innovator in new ways and explore the idea of innovation at different times and in different localities – an issue that will be explored by a panel of historians and…

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