Originally Posted by
sidevalve
The code breaking feats of the Bletchley teams led by Turing have been marginalised by the way that we've recorded and remembered our history. How should he best be honoured posthumously..?
sv
The contribution made by Turing transcends pure science. It was he that enabled the first leap into the modern electronic age with computing and who, even today, sets the challenge for recognising the qualities of intelligence - man and machine!
On that basis I'd have a section set aside in the British Museum - an altogether airier and more pleasant place than the Science Museum anyway, which would be the more 'normal' place to consider appropriate to recognise a scientist. Perhaps also a plaque at the Royal Society, if there isn't already one there.
The BM would be more in keeping with the great historical contribution he made to the advancement of society, regardless of whether we approve of his other foibles. This in itself would have a kind of appropriate irony, given his imprisonment for having 'alternative preferences', by putting him up with the best of British for his quite remarkable contribution to science and the way we live - and will continue to advance.