World-renowned expert Dr. Mark Baldwin – “Dr. Enigma” captivates Slovenian cryptography enthusiasts with his lecture

At first glance, the Park of Military History Pivka and the Computer Museum may seem to have little in common. However, the teams from both institutions recently joined forces and invited Dr. Mark Baldwin, widely known worldwide as Dr. Enigma, to Slovenia. He is considered a leading expert in the German encryption device Enigma field and the associated historical events. As a professional lecturer, he captivates cryptography and military history enthusiasts in numerous countries worldwide.

Dr. Mark Baldwin and the director of the Park of Military History, Mr. Janko Boštjančič, at the exhibition “Enigma – The Mysterious Backstage of War” (Photo: Boštjan Kurent)

Dr. Enigma also impressed the participants with his lecture at the Park of Military History on Tuesday, May 23, and at the Computer Museum on Thursday, May 25. As an enthusiastic and convincing speaker, he left a lasting impression on all attendees by demonstrating the original Enigma machine. The impactful lecture on Enigma encryption mechanisms was complemented by a presentation from Mark Štamcar, the head of the Computer Museum’s laboratory. As an experienced technology demonstrator, he brought to life and tested an unusual toy from the Computer Museum’s collection: the Barbie typewriter, an innocent-looking children’s toy manufactured by the Slovenian company Mehano. The contrast between the presented devices prompted participants from both museum evenings to reflect on the role of cryptography in everyday life, where individuals are more exposed to information than ever before.

Lecture at the Park of Military History Pivka (Photo: Boštjan Kurent)

Dr. Mark Baldwin giving a lecture at the Computer Museum (Photo: Computer Museum)

During his visit to the Park of Military History, Dr. Baldwin naturally also visited the new exhibition “Enigma – The Mysterious Behind the Scenes of War” and listened with interest to the story of the “Pivka” Enigma M4 and the German minelayer R 15, from which it originated. During a guided tour of the other museum exhibits, he praised the Park’s management for successfully managing such an extensive collection of military-technical heritage and the attractive range of museum exhibitions.

Dr. Mark Baldwin (left) with the authors of the exhibition “Enigma – The Mysterious Bahind the Scenes of War,” Mr. Janko Boštjančič and Dr. Andrej Gaspari at the Military History Park Pivka (Photo: Boštjan Kurent)

At the Computer Museum, Dr. Baldwin explored the museum’s collection, permanent exhibition, and temporary exhibitions “Escape: Journey to the Heart of Digital Cultures” and “Why Should You Care?!” which address pressing issues related to data protection, cyber surveillance, and digital sovereignty.

Marko Štamcar (Computer Museum, left) and Dr. Mark Baldwin (right) with cryptographic machines (Photo: Sam Baldwin)