Doron Swade MBE was born in 1944 and has made a significant impact in the field of computing history. With his expertise in electronics engineering, history, machine intelligence, philosophy of science, and physics, he has studied at various renowned universities, including the University of Cape Town, University of Cambridge, and University College London.
Swade's academic credentials include a BSc in physics and electronics engineering, an MSc in control engineering, and a PhD in the history of computing from UCL. His extensive educational background has equipped him with the knowledge and skills to excel in his profession.
As a curator, Swade has worked at the Science Museum in London and the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley, California. At the Science Museum, he curated the computing and electronics collections and rose to the position of Assistant Director and Head of Collections. His most notable project was the construction of Charles Babbage's Difference Engine, which he collaborated on with Dr Allan Bromley.
In 1989, Swade co-founded the Computer Conservation Society, a specialist group of the British Computer Society (BCS),with regular meetings at the Science Museum. He is a Fellow of the BCS and a Chartered Engineer, demonstrating his expertise and commitment to the field.
Swade is also a visiting professor in the history of computing at the University of Portsmouth, UK, and an honorary research fellow in computer science at Royal Holloway, University of London. His extensive knowledge and experience have made him a valuable asset to these institutions.
In addition to his academic and professional pursuits, Swade has appeared on the In Our Time program on Ada Lovelace, a collaborator with Charles Babbage, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2008. He was awarded an MBE for services to the history of computing in the UK New Year Honours 2009 list.
Since 2010, Swade has been involved with the Plan 28 project, which aims to understand whether Babbage's Analytical Engine was a feasible computer based on Babbage's work, and to build a simulation. His dedication to the project and his expertise in the field have been invaluable to the team.
Throughout his career, Swade has demonstrated a deep passion for the history of computing and has made significant contributions to the field. His extensive experience, academic credentials, and commitment to his work have solidified his position as a leading expert in the field.
