Forging the Future with the White Heat of the Past?: Legacies of ‘the Tech’, and the Making of the Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, 1966–74

Erin Beeston

doi:10.7227/BJRL.100.2.7

Forging the Future with the White Heat of the Past? Legacies of ‘the Tech’, and the Making of the Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, 1966–74

Erin Beeston

Division of Psychology Communication and Human Neuroscience (L5)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) was created for the advancement of technical education in post-war Britain. Born of an existing technical college, fondly known as ‘the Tech’, UMIST represented optimism and Manchester’s prominent position in the ‘white heat’ epoch. Historians have recognised the political and personal role of the first principal, Vivian Bowden, in the expansion of UMIST in Manchester’s metropolitan and intellectual landscapes. Alongside colleagues and councillors, Bowden selectively harnessed Manchester’s scientific reputation and industrial heritage to forge the future. The purpose of this article is to contextualise this and understand how historical narratives and acts of commemoration aided the rapid expansion of UMIST in Manchester’s educational and civic realms. Considering the relationship of key actors with concepts of the past, present and future of technology underlines the significance of attitudes towards ‘the Tech’ in this process.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	125-145
Number of pages	21
Journal	Bulletin of the John Rylands Library
Volume	100
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7227/BJRL.100.2.7
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 20 Dec 2020

Keywords

technology
heritage
commemoration
education
futures

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.7227/BJRL.100.2.7

Beeston - Forging the futureAccepted author manuscript, 402 KB

Higher Learning and Civic Cultures of Knowledge in Manchester: 1824-2024 (Organizer)
Jones, S. (Chair), Flanagan, K. (Participant), Beeston, E. (Participant), Godden, C. (Participant), Johnson, R. (Participant), Ellis, H. (Participant) & Brook, R. (Participant)
25 May 2023
Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research

Cite this

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title = "Forging the Future with the White Heat of the Past?: Legacies of {\textquoteleft}the Tech{\textquoteright}, and the Making of the Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, 1966–74",

abstract = "The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) was created for the advancement of technical education in post-war Britain. Born of an existing technical college, fondly known as {\textquoteleft}the Tech{\textquoteright}, UMIST represented optimism and Manchester{\textquoteright}s prominent position in the {\textquoteleft}white heat{\textquoteright} epoch. Historians have recognised the political and personal role of the first principal, Vivian Bowden, in the expansion of UMIST in Manchester{\textquoteright}s metropolitan and intellectual landscapes. Alongside colleagues and councillors, Bowden selectively harnessed Manchester{\textquoteright}s scientific reputation and industrial heritage to forge the future. The purpose of this article is to contextualise this and understand how historical narratives and acts of commemoration aided the rapid expansion of UMIST in Manchester{\textquoteright}s educational and civic realms. Considering the relationship of key actors with concepts of the past, present and future of technology underlines the significance of attitudes towards {\textquoteleft}the Tech{\textquoteright} in this process.",

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