How Sustainable was the Netherlands?
Description
Prior to this, from 19:15 - 19:45, the annual General Members' Meeting will also take place, to which interested TME members are of course also welcome (see for the agenda at the bottom of this convocation).
The meeting will be introduced by Prof Harry Lintsen.
About the lecture:
In 2005, Prof Lintsen published the book 'Made In Holland', which rewrote the history of the Netherlands from the perspective of technical development. The book discussed the role of technology and engineers in creating a prosperous Netherlands. Around 1850, most of the population was still caught in the poverty trap. In the century that followed, it managed to escape it. Engineers made an important contribution to this.
Prof Lintsen gave a lecture at the TME Department on the history of technology eight years ago, following "Made In Holland". Both in his book and at the conclusion of the lecture, Prof Lintsen ended with the question: is there a new, historical task for engineers of the same importance? The answer in 2005: there remains only one grand ambition for scientists and engineers, namely to realise sustainability.
This answer was the start of a new research programme: rewriting the history of the Netherlands from the perspective of sustainability. The first results of the research are now known. This provides surprising answers around questions such as: Was the Netherlands more sustainable in the past than it is today? Was poverty really the big problem in the past? Why are developments around sustainability so slow? The lecture will address such questions.
We would be delighted to welcome you to this evening. There is no charge for participation. Registration is from 19.45 hrs
20.00-21.30 lecture Hoe Duurzaam was Nederland?
19.15-19.45 ALV Afdeling TME
1. Opening and announcements, including special attention to the anniversary: the section was founded as of 01 January 2000 and therefore exists 15 years this year;
2. Report of General Assembly 06 May 2014 (at the meeting);
3. Activities last year (orally);
4. Financial report 2014 and budget 2015 (for the meeting);
5. Plans for 2015 (verbal);
6. Board: Members Nicolai and Van Duijvenvoorde are due to step down at this annual meeting according to the retirement schedule. The department anniversary has given cause to renew and rejuvenate the departmental board. In connection with this, besides Mr Nicolai, Mr Steinbuch and Mr Van Gelder will also step down. Mr Van Duijvenvoorde was eligible for re-election. It was proposed to reappoint him as secretary and to appoint Nienke van der Noordaa as a new member.
7. Any other business and conclusion.
Speaker(s)
About the speaker:
Harry Lintsen (1949) studied physics at Eindhoven University of Technology and obtained his PhD at the same university in 1980 with a study on the history of the engineering profession in the Netherlands. He was editor-in-chief of a six-part series on engineering in the Netherlands in the nineteenth century (TIN 19) and chairman of the editorial board of a seven-part series on engineering in the Netherlands in the twentieth century (TIN 20).
On this basis, he wrote 'Made in Holland. A technical history of the Netherlands [1800-2000]'. The organisation of the two series was in the hands of the Stichting Historie der Techniek, which Lintsen founded in 1988 together with W.J. Wolff, president of the Royal Institute of Engineers KIVI.
Lintsen held professorships at Delft University of Technology (1990-2004) and Eindhoven University of Technology (1990-2010). He retired in 1910. He is currently working on the topic of 'sustainability' in historical perspective
Location
Prinsessegracht 23, 2514 AP The Hague
Organiser
Technology, Society & Economics
Name and contact details for information
Further information via the e-mail address below: