Liz and Eben Upton receive Honorary Fellowships from The National Museum of Computing for their services to technology

Eben and Liz Upton

The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley, 4th October 2022 – The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC), has today announced that the inventors and co-founders of the Raspberry Pi, Eben Upton, and Liz Upton, grassroots community organiser and Executive Director of Communications at Raspberry Pi, are to be awarded honorary fellowships of the museum. The Honorary Fellowship recognises outstanding contributions towards the history and ongoing development of computing, and a ceremony honouring them will be held on the 3rd December 2022.

In a relatively short time, Liz and Eben Upton have had an enormous impact on the lives of millions of people and have furthered the field of computing for generations to come. Together they have built a global community of programmers and created a vibrant global network of computing enthusiasts.

The Raspberry Pi story began in 2006 with the creation of the first prototypes inspired by the BBC Micro of the 1980s. Six years later, the first Raspberry Pi was created, and in the ten years since over 45 million units have been sold.

The project was born of a frustration that Eben saw with undergraduates in the early 2000s: that applications to study computer science were declining, and incoming students didn’t have programming skills. The issue was that the computers of the 1990s didn’t inspire the hobby programmers of the 1980s.

While developing a cheap and easily accessible single-board computer was the foundation of Raspberry Pi’s success, Liz Upton was instrumental in founding the vast global Raspberry Pi community that now exists. Today 300,000 young people across the globe participate in weekly volunteer-powered coding clubs.

Liz and Eben Upton, in creating the Raspberry Pi, followed a vision that is very much aligned with TNMOC. A vision to bring to life the history and ongoing development of computing for inspiration, research, learning and enjoyment for the benefit of general and specialist publics of all ages.

 Upon receiving the fellowship, Liz Upton commented: “Eben and I are delighted to accept this Honorary Fellowship and we are touched by the kind words of this passionate community. The National Museum of Computing does such vital work, and we are both relishing the prospect of using our platform to highlight the importance of its collection and its educational mission.”

The Museum’s director Jacqui Garrad added, “What Eben and Liz Upton have achieved is remarkable. Their success in engaging young people in the world of technology makes them the perfect honorary fellows for The National Museum of Computing. Eben & Liz Upton represent the best parts of computing and community organising. With accessibility and community at the heart of everything they have achieved, TNMOC is delighted to be able to welcome them into our community - one that shares the values they embody.

We are over the moon to have their expertise and experience on board, and we look forward to growing our educational offering with their help.”

The ticketed event will take place on the historic grounds of Bletchley Park at The National Museum of Computing; however, an option is available to attend virtually. Tickets can be purchased at the Museum or online here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/396466350527

About The National Museum of Computing’s Honorary Fellowship programme 

TNMOC’s mission statement is “to bring to life the history and ongoing development of computing for inspiration, research, learning and enjoyment for the benefit of general and specialist publics of all ages.” 

The Honorary Fellowship programme supports that mission by recognising outstanding individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field.

Contributions may take different forms, including but not limited to:

• Advancing the science, technology, and practice of computing

• Advancing public knowledge and understanding of the history, culture, science, technology, and practice of computing

• Advancing the diffusion of knowledge of computing through education and writing

• Advancing the standing of the National Museum of Computing in the wider world, developing and promoting fruitful relationships between the museum and other organisations

As honorary fellows of The National Museum of Computing, Liz & Eben Upton joins the esteemed company of Margaret and Anthony Sale, who were both pivotal in the 1992 campaign to save Bletchley Park, Rory Cellan-Jones, former BBC Technology Correspondent, and Professor Brian Randell, whose historical research led to a wider public recognition of the importance of Colossus to computing as we know it today.

About The National Museum of Computing 

Located on Bletchley Park as an independent museum, The National Museum of Computing brings to life the history and ongoing development of computing for the enjoyment and benefit of the general public and specialists.

The museum combines a distinctive approach to engagement with an emphasis on British computing heritage and ongoing innovation. TNMOC acquires, conserves, restores and rebuilds historic computing machinery. Our approach is furthered through a process of engagement, with the display and demonstration of historical systems. The museum runs a highly successful learning programme for schools and colleges and introduces computer coding to young people to help inspire the next generation of computer scientists and engineers. The museum also runs a popular, ongoing program of festivals, lectures and interpreted displays and interactive events.