Beyond the Imitation Game - From Dieppe & James Bond to Blackberry & Quantum Encryption

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 7:30 pm - 7:30 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

Peter Berg and David O'Keefe

Discover the remarkable story of the Enigma machine, a device invented in 1918 to encrypt the most secret and sensitive communications in Hitler’s Nazi Germany, and  the lengths the Allies would go to in an effort to tap into its Ultra Secret yield!
 
This event will cover the machine's inner workings, the code-breaking efforts of Alan Turing and his team at Bletchley Park, the crucial role of pinch raids which led to the Dieppe Raid, the race to monopolize cryptographic technology, the ties to modern espionage and  encryption technology, the imprint that the Enigma has left on Canada, and what James Bond has to do with it all. Plus, you will witness an on-stage demonstration of the Enigma followed by an in-depth question and answer period.

About the Speakers

Peter Berg dreamt to be a scientist since age ten. He studied physics in Germany before obtaining a PhD in mathematics in the UK. After academic appointments in  Ontario and Trondheim, Norway, he returned to Canada in 2015 to take up a position as Professor of mathematics and physics and Chair of the Department of Science at the University of Alberta. While he enjoys his research on fuel cells, his true passion lies in public outreach, and the Enigma machine is his favourite topic.

David O’Keefe is an award-winning historian, professor, and best-selling author who doubles as an international television host, creator, writer and producer.