Sir John Thomson will discuss underlying attitudes, intentions and an awareness of global conditions at a Director's Colloquium at 1:10 p.m., Tuesday, in the Physics Building Auditorium at Technical Area 3.
The talk will air live on Labnet Channel 9. It also can be viewed on desktop computers using Real Media Player.
Thomson believes the Western world has failed to find a paradigm to replace the Cold War confrontation. He said the novelty of the contemporary situation -- one superpower, a small clutch of great powers, and approximately 180 lesser powers -- calls for a new concept.
"Is one to be found in President George W. Bush's statements, especially his speech of Sept. 12 to the United Nations and his foreign policy mission statement of Sept. 17?" asked Thomson.
Thomson has served as head of policy and planning in the British Diplomatic Service, a Minister at NATO, ambassador to India and as the permanent representative in the United Nations.
He also has held a variety of academic and business posts and was chairman of Minority Rights Group International.
He now lives in Princeton, N.J. He is the grandson of Sir J.J. Thomson (Nobel Laureate) and son of Sir George Thomson (Nobel Laureate).
For more information, contact Rajan Gupta in Elementary Particles and Field Theory (T-8) at 5-3700 or write to rg@lanl.gov by electronic mail.