COMMUNICATE 2008 WITH PORTHCURNO TELEGRAPH MUSEUM
Communications museum holds a series of engaging lectures

Press release: January 2008 (PDF version, 58KB)

A Cornish institution which led the way in the development of global communications is once again taking centre stage by gathering leading experts together to host a series of lectures.

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum is welcoming internationally-respected specialists and academics to Cornwall for Communicate 2008 - four engaging lectures to be held at University College Falmouth this year.

Exploring themes such as emotional dependence on mobile phones, the impact of the internet on social networking, and even the relationship of terrorism with the internet, these monthly events will take place between January and April 2008.

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum (www.porthcurno.org.uk) was once the hub of communication between Britain and the rest of the empire, and is the site of the world's largest cable station.

Indeed a large percentage of the UK's Internet traffic still travels through cables at Porthcurno.

Libby Buckley, Director at Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, said: "Putting on these lectures is a fantastic way for people to engage with what we do.

"Porthcurno has traditionally been at the hub of communication globally. Back in the 1800s, we were the nerve centre of the British Empire and played a pivotal role in communication during World War Two.

"Even now, Cornwall has a role to play in communications and technology with fast broadband and a growing information technology business sector.

"Currently we have a number of research projects under way, focusing on technological, social and cultural development of international communication.

"We are keen to highlight this by putting on Communicate 2008, which will celebrate Cornwall's contribution to communication on an international scale."

The lectures will be chaired by Chris Rogers, television news presenter and political editor for BBC South West.

Students studying media and broadcasting courses at University College Falmouth are also being encouraged to get involved - broadcasts and digital podcasts are being planned so the lectures can be accessed digitally after the events have taken place.

The Lectures:

Thursday, January 24: Why do we love and loathe mobile phones? By Jane Vincent of Digital World Research Centre at the University of Surrey.

Ms Vincent has worked with British Telecom and mobile phone network 02 for the past 20 years, and in her role at the Digital World Research Centre, she examines the social practices of mobile communications users.

Thursday, February 21: Web for Good: Challenging the triviality of the Internet by Jonathan Simmons, director of Public Zone, on the evolution of social networking online and developing the use of sites like Facebook, Myspace and Bebo to make a positive difference.

Public Zone is a team of writers, designers, technology experts and strategists with a passion for doing brilliant work for not-for-profit organisations and projects. With a focus on social enterprise, they develop communication strategies, websites and intranets, publish magazines and produce promotional materials.

Thursday, March 27: History of Telecommunications - People and Technology by Dr Jack Rowley.

Dr Rowley is Director of Research and Sustainability at GSMA, a global trade organisation which represents mobile phone operators in over 200 countries.

With a background in electronic engineering, Dr Rowley has more than 18 years experience in the telecommunications industry. He is responsible for researching the safety and social aspects of mobile communications.

Dr Rowley will explore the history of telecommunications, from messenger on horseback to wireless Internet connection.

Thursday, April 24: New Media, New Terrorism: Dr Maura Conway explores the relationship between terrorism and the Internet.

Dr Conway is the MA programme director for the School of Law and Governement at Dublin City University. Her research interest is the use of the Internet in terrorist activity, including al Qaeda's use of new media and comparing media hype with reality.

All lectures take place at 7.30pm at University College Falmouth's Tremough campus. Tickets for the events are priced £7.50/£5.00 (concessions) and are available from the Poly in Falmouth.

The Poly box office is open from 10-5 Monday to Saturday. Tel: 01326 212 300 or book online at www.thepoly.org

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For more information please contact Rachel Foster on 07989 695522 or email rachelvfoster@tiscali.co.uk.

Notes for Editors

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
www.porthcurno.org.uk
01736 810 478

Background
Porthcurno has a unique historic provenance: this is where the telegraph cables that linked Britain with its Empire and other nations came ashore. The valley was the hub of international cable communications from 1870-1970 and also training college for the communications industry until 1993. Porthcurno was the largest cable station in the world.

Our collection is unique in its completeness. We have the only working cable station (complete in all details except the actual cable) in the world. We also have all the supporting materials and associated ephemera that are rarely preserved with such collections. Porthcurno also had one of the earliest commercial wireless stations in 1902 so we are able to show the emerging competition between cable and wireless technology.

The ethos of the museum is to have as much as possible to be demonstrated in working order. To keep the collections working we rely on the knowledge and support of a dedicated team of volunteers.

The role of the cable station and the training school at Porthcurno has had a significant impact on the valley and local communities. The museum is now a focus for representing local history as well as communications technology.

History of the PK Trust
The Porthcurno Telegraph Museum is owned and operated by The Cable & Wireless Porthcurno and Collections Trust (The PK Trust) an independent educational charity and heritage trust. The PK Trust was created in 1997 by Cable & Wireless to hold the Company's historic buildings and collections at Porthcurno.

Its main activities are the operation of Porthcurno Telegraph Museum and the management of the Cable & Wireless historic archive. The museum and archive already provide access to an internationally recognised resource and have become a centre for the education of the public in the history of telegraph communications. As well as a successful museum a lot of work is carried out with local schools and community groups.

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum opening times
Hours of opening: 10am-5pm with last admission before 4pm.

Winter opening 2007/2008
11th November 2007 to 10th March 2008 - Sundays and Mondays only.

Last admission time 1 hour before closing time.

For further details, including winter school holiday opening times, please call 01736 810966 or email caroline.seats@porthcurno.org.uk.

Group visits
Group visits can be arranged during normal opening hours and at other times by appointment:
Tel: 01736 810966 or email caroline.seats@porthcurno.org.uk.

Facilities

• Plenty of parking for cars and coaches (small charge in main season)
• Guide dogs welcome
• Ice-cream, snacks, cold drinks and tea/coffee/hot chocolate are available in the museum shop.
• The nearby Cable Station Inn and Beach Cafe also offer food and drinks.

Charges 2007/2008
If you are a UK tax payer and you kindly make a donation of 10% above the entry charge, the government will grant the Charity an extra 28%.

FREE Admission:

• Child under 5
• Carer Accompanying Disabled Person
• Teachers and carers accompanying school groups: 1 free per 6 children

Discounts

• 10% discount is available on a pre-booked group of 10 people or more who pay as a group.