Seminar Title: The Sinking of the Lusitania: Reviewing the Evidence

Venue: National University of Science & Technology, Bousher

Date and Timings: Sunday, 8th Sep 2019, 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm

Delivered by: Prof. Michael Wood, Phd FCGI, Industrial Professor and Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor

Overview : The 32,500 gross tonnage Cunard liner Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat whilst en route to Liverpool on the afternoon of the 7th of May in 1915. Consequently, it sank with the loss of 1,195 lives. A series of investigative and formal research exercises, undertaken in the light of eye-witness accounts of the events surrounding that tragedy has given rise to a number of hypotheses concerning the loss of this vessel. In this talk all the available evidence concerning the attack and the one or more explosions that occurred is summarised with conclusions drawn regarding the torpedo effects and the most likely causes of the secondary events reported. All are discussed in the light of the speed at which the liner sank.

Biography of the Speaker: Professor Wood is an independent engineer and scientist with over 30 years of experience working as a Consultant to the European Commission, the UK Ministry of Defence, also industry and commerce in general. His professional institution experience has included Chairman of a branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Trustee of the British Nuclear Energy Society, Council Member of the Institution of Nuclear Engineers, Trustee of the Science Council, Member of the Academic and Professional Development Committee of the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining, and Chair of the Accreditation Panel of the Institution of Engineering Designers.