Patrick Zander, who earned his PhD in 2009 from the School of History, Technology, and Society, has been awarded the 20th Century British History Prize for his paper about the first air flights over Mt. Everest.

The prize is awarded annually by the leading British journal Twentieth Century British History (Oxford University Press). It is intended to encourage a high standard of scholarship by postgraduate research students in Britain and abroad.

Zander's paper entitled (Right) Wings Over Everest: High Adventure, High Technology, and High Nationalism on the Roof of the World, 1932-34, will be published in the Twentieth Century British History Journal. This paper investigates the first air flights over Mount Everest in 1933, conducted by a British expedition. Beyond the contributions to science and aviation technology, the flights were also rich with political and imperial significance. In particular, the paper discusses the expedition's close connection to Britain's extreme right wing community and that group's wish to use the Everest flights as a sensational display which would discourage the Indian independence movement.

Zander earned his PhD in History and Sociology of Technology and Science in 2009 under Professor Jonathan Schneer in the School of History, Technology, and Society. He is currently teaching at Kennesaw State University and at Reinhardt College.