What is the Peter Kirstein Lecture Series?
It was so named to honour the life and work of Peter Kirstein, the founding head of UCL Computer Science and a major figure in the development of the field of Computer Science globally.
Peter was a visionary who pushed at the boundaries of what we knew and what we could do, often in the face of disapproval and difficulties from more conservative voices.
As a result, he was instrumental in changing the nature of society, not just in the ‘developed’ world, but in countries working to establish themselves following the collapse of the Soviet Union, amongst others.
In discussion with Peter himself, we decided that the ideas for each lecture should be generated in conjunction with new members of staff and the series should be bold in the speakers it seeks to invite, to challenge orthodoxy and to encourage debate.
Lecture series
Peter Kirstein Lecture 2025
Professor Tom Mitchell (Carnegie Mellon University): Where Can AI Take Education by 2030?
Peter Kirstein Lecture 2024
Professor Hugh Herr (MIT) On the Design of Bionic Limbs: The Science of Tissue-Synthetic Interface.
Peter Kirstein Lecture 2023
Cory Doctorow, science fiction author, activist, and journalist.
Peter Kirstein Lecture 2022
Mikko Hyppönen - Computer Security and Privacy Expert.
Peter Kirstein Lecture 2021
Ruha Benjamin, Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University, USA.
ARPANET 50th Anniversary
This was considered the first event in the Peter Kirstein Lecture Series.
