Meteorology, Weather and War in Southeast Asia: Malaya c.1940-1960
LOCATION
This talk interrogates the positioning of British colonial meteorology in Malaysia and Singapore from the 1940s to 1960. This period spanned a global conflict and an internecine war, effecting profound socio-political changes from which neither country would emerge the same. The meteorological services were essential to Britain’s armed conflicts, providing vital weather information to the army, navy and especially, the air forces, as well as supporting the aviation and shipping industry often in difficult and dangerous circumstances. This article argues that British strategic military needs and colonial interests were the guiding force for meteorological policy within Malaya across this period, colouring the direction of tropical weather and climate research and expenditure on scientific resources. In so doing, it addresses the interplay of science, colonialism, and national interest in setting scientific agendas. It does so by focussing on a region and period that has seen little attention in the historiography of science, in particular meteorology.
Speaker
Dr Fiona Williamson, Singapore Management University
Fiona Williamson is Associate Professor of Environmental History at the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University. She specialises in the history of meteorology, climate, environment and extreme weather in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong during the British colonial period. She is Co-President of the International Commission for the History of Meteorology (ICHM) and is currently writing a book on the history of meteorology in nineteenth and early-twentieth century Singapore and Malaysia.
Registration
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.
Registration for this event is available virtually or in person.
Please note that our registration process has recently changed:
Members
If you are a member of the Society and have an account already, please log in to your account before your register. If you are a member and don’t have an account set up already, you will need to create an account. Your username is the email address that is linked to your membership.
Non-Members
If you are not a member of the Society you will need to create an account in order to register for events.
Once you have created an account, you will be required to log in each time you would like to register for an event. You will also have access to a Dashboard area that will show which events you have registered for and past events you have attended.
Any information you provide to us will only be used by The Royal Meteorological Society and appointed representatives.
This meeting is part of the Royal Meteorological Society Meetings programme, open to all, from expert to enthusiast, for topical discussions on the latest advances in weather and climate. Free to attend. Non-members are welcome.
A copy of our terms and conditions can be found here
If you have any queries with regards to this event or require any further information please contact us at meetings@rmets.org
This talk interrogates the positioning of British colonial meteorology in Malaysia and Singapore from the 1940s to 1960. This period spanned a global conflict and an internecine war, effecting profound socio-political changes from which neither country would emerge the same. The meteorological services were essential to Britain’s armed conflicts, providing vital weather information to the army, navy and especially, the air forces, as well as supporting the aviation and shipping industry often in difficult and dangerous circumstances. This article argues that British strategic military needs and colonial interests were the guiding force for meteorological policy within Malaya across this period, colouring the direction of tropical weather and climate research and expenditure on scientific resources. In so doing, it addresses the interplay of science, colonialism, and national interest in setting scientific agendas. It does so by focussing on a region and period that has seen little attention in the historiography of science, in particular meteorology.
Speaker
Dr Fiona Williamson, Singapore Management University
Fiona Williamson is Associate Professor of Environmental History at the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University. She specialises in the history of meteorology, climate, environment and extreme weather in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong during the British colonial period. She is Co-President of the International Commission for the History of Meteorology (ICHM) and is currently writing a book on the history of meteorology in nineteenth and early-twentieth century Singapore and Malaysia.
Registration
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.
Registration for this event is available virtually or in person.
Please note that our registration process has recently changed:
Members
If you are a member of the Society and have an account already, please log in to your account before your register. If you are a member and don’t have an account set up already, you will need to create an account. Your username is the email address that is linked to your membership.
Non-Members
If you are not a member of the Society you will need to create an account in order to register for events.
Once you have created an account, you will be required to log in each time you would like to register for an event. You will also have access to a Dashboard area that will show which events you have registered for and past events you have attended.
Any information you provide to us will only be used by The Royal Meteorological Society and appointed representatives.
This meeting is part of the Royal Meteorological Society Meetings programme, open to all, from expert to enthusiast, for topical discussions on the latest advances in weather and climate. Free to attend. Non-members are welcome.
A copy of our terms and conditions can be found here
If you have any queries with regards to this event or require any further information please contact us at meetings@rmets.org
