Developing new technologies - how Britain can beat the rest

DR. CYRIL HILSUM, the only chief scientific officer of the Ministry of Defence appointed to a research position, found himself just after the Second World War working for the Admiralty rather than staying on at University College, London, as its Physics Department´s first post-war postgraduate research student. He was sent to join Admiralty headquarters, and after working on the British infrared programme, moved on to compound semiconductors. He was one of the scientists involved in investigating gallium arsenide´s instabilities, although it was Gunn who named the oscillation effect and the resulting diode. He now researches with The Royal Signals & Radar Establishment on solid-state flat-panel displays, and holds the highest scientific-officer grade the UK Civil Service can offer without administrative responsibilities. CAROLINE WEINSTEIN went to see him recently to talk about a little of his career and his views on science and technological research in the UK.