How can Britain defend itself in the 21st century?
Wednesday, 01 July 2026 at 18:30
How can Britain defend itself in the 21st century? University of Exeter Strategy and Security showcase event.
Event details
At this event we will hear from three leading academics from the University of Exeter’s who are advancing research into how the UK can respond to threats which are no longer purely military, but increasingly digital, informational and societal.
Our speakers will share insights from strategy, psychology, and computational social science, offering a unique, interdisciplinary perspective on how Britain is positioned to protect itself in a rapidly evolving security landscape particularly in the context of last year’s Strategic Defence Review.
Welcome drinks will be served from 6.30pm
Presentations start at 7.00pm:
Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations
Dr. Thomson will focus on the human dimension of defence - how citizens perceive threats and support (or resist) security policies. She will explore the role psychological predispositions and perceptions play in shaping Britain’s security decisions, and the extent to which Britain’s ability to defend itself depends not only on equipment or doctrine, but also on the resilience of its people and the legitimacy of its strategies.
Senior Lecturer in Computational Social Science
Dr. Brace will focus on the cyber-driven nature of the evolving challenges to homeland security, particularly in regards to extremism and terrorism; examining how digital technologies enable radicalisation, amplify pre-existing threats, and contribute to emerging threats. He will outline his work mapping emerging digital ecosystems and informing evidence?based strategies to counter radicalisation through the use of data science, computational methods and Open-Source Intelligence to study these issues at scale.
Professor of Defence and Security; Director, Strategy and Security Institute
Professor King will focus on the history of the Strategy and Security Institute and current plans for its future, the re-launching of Exeter’s MA in Applied Security and Strategy and his work in AI and autonomous weapons.
8.00pm - 9.00pm: Networking with drinks and canapés.
Organiser
Alumni and supporters
Location
The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4HT