Prestigious Oxford Fellowship Awarded to University of Lincoln, Dartmouth Maritime Study Centre Senior Lecturer

Dr Chris Lavers, a University of Lincoln Senior Lecturer at Britannia Royal Naval College, is to start as a Visiting Fellow at the Changing Character of War Centre, Pembroke College, Oxford. His research will evaluate the threat posed by modified off-the-shelf-UAVs for malign activities by non-state actors in small wars, or domestic terrorists nearer to home. His proposal was approved by an academic board led by Baron John Alderdice. Past Fellows include Air Vice Marshal Subramanian of the Indian Air Force, Lt General Sir David Capewell (past Chief of Joint Operations), General Sir John Kezely (Rtd), and Rear Admiral James Goldrick AO, CSR of the RANR.

Chris has taught earth observation, sensors, and telecommunications at Britannia since 1993, and is Subject Matter Expert (Radar and Telecommunications), with interest in the pedagogy of taught engineering in Higher Education military establishments.

“I am thrilled to return to Pembroke as part of the Lincoln MSC, to pursue a topic of high relevance to the UK military, HMG, and national security, building as it does upon previous work undertaken during COVID. I am also excited to return to Pembroke during their quadricentennial (Pembroke 400) celebrations, even older than Britannia!”

Chris adds, “The academic faculty at the Maritime Research Centre has a long history in pioneering societal solutions and the benefits of using new technology. I hope to use this fellowship on behalf of the MRC to broaden the understanding of risks posed by ‘weaponised’ civilian drones and how to mitigate their modification, especially the cyber security.

“We will look at the challenges created by the War in Ukraine through exploitation of gaming technology with First Person View. We anticipate modified platforms will have an increasing role in hybrid sub-threshold operations, and the ability to train neural networks to target specific individuals, and the risks posed by the weaponisation of space, with remote autonomous platforms, is also a concern. Current platforms already rely on artificial intelligence, machine-based learning, and autonomous decision-making, and this trend will continue.

“As an engineer I believe there are ethical responsibilities to design civilian drones differently to military ones, ensuring civilian welfare, and privacy. We will explore how the media narrative of drones compares with those who have experienced drone attacks, and the societal impact upon civilian populations in urban environments.”

Chris has a Physics degree and Doctorate in the design and testing of liquid crystal devices. During his PhD he spent time at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, Malvern. He undertook post-doctoral biosensors post at Southampton University, pioneering advanced optical sensors for biochemical applications, detecting target antibodies, working with the Public Health Laboratory Service Porton Down, and Liverpool University.

He has held junior and senior teaching posts at Britannia, currently lecturing in engineering topics including Radar, and Earth Surveillance. “The Maritime Study Centre’s technical research has pioneered focus on transfer of military technologies to civilian applications, including high resolution satellite imaging, wildlife thermal imaging, UAV platforms, and space-based sensors.” He has provided technical advice to overseas customers, and members of HMG, regarding maritime sensors systems and security, and led a space-based radar market sensing project with Airbus, UK.

Chris says, “This award helps to further the overall ambition of the University of Lincoln’s Maritime Study Centre to become a recognised world-leading authority on both Technology and International Affairs Developments in the Armed Forces today, operating in partnership with other key global centres of excellence such as CCW under the direction of Dr Rob Johnson and his team.”

Visiting CCW Fellows are drawn from across the academic and professional worlds, with senior officers of the USA, European, and UK armed forces strongly represented, international organisations, NGOs, journalists, civil servants, and diplomatic staff. Founded in 1624, Pembroke counts Samuel Johnson, Sir William Blackstone, and James Smithson among its alumni. More recent distinguished members include Michael Heseltine, former Deputy Prime Minister, and in the USA, Senator Fulbright.

Story submitted by Elise Roberts
elroberts@lincoln.ac.uk