A panel discussion co-hosted by the Centre for Drones and Culture and the Imperial War Museum, London (in-person)
At the Roof Terrace, Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ
£15 full price / £10 student price
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Beware Blue Skies, a creative, immersive film about the psychology of drone warfare showing at the Imperial War Museum as part of its “War and the Mind” exhibition from Nov 2024 - Mar 2025. The commission is a collaboration between the Centre for Drones and Culture, the IWM, and Human Studio.
About the panel discussion
In recent decades, armed drones have become a pervasive and ever-present feature of modern warfare. By operating remotely, militaries are able to prevent the risk of troops being physically harmed, and drones are becoming increasingly precise tools to target and surveil.
But despite this, there are momentous ethical dilemmas involved in the use of armed drones in warfare — the damage radius of a missile strike often exceeds the use of ground troops, and the collateral loss of civilian life can be significant. Meanwhile, drones are used in shadowy undeclared warzones from Pakistan to Somalia, often under questionable legal pretences.
What are the considerations involved in using drones in war? What are the physical consequences of drone warfare on local civilian populations? What are the psychological impacts of an ever-present threat from above in areas frequently targeted by drones? How does carrying out a deadly drone strike impact the mental health of drone operators themselves? And what does the future of drone warfare look like as AI is increasingly integrated into the battlefield?
Learn more in this expert panel discussion and Q&A with Professor Peter Lee, Professor Michael Clarke, and Professor Shona Illingworth.
This event is sponsored by the Centre for Drones and Culture and funded by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (MR/W010429/1).
The IWM Institute is IWM’s research and knowledge exchange hub. We provide access to IWM’s rich collections for research and innovation to increase the public’s understanding of war and conflict.