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October 1999 SOCIETY History of Science at the 16Th International Botanical Congress

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October 1999 SOCIETY History of Science at the 16Th International Botanical Congress ISSN 0739-4934 NEWSLETTER I {!STORY OF SCIENCE VOLUME 28 NUMBER 4 October 1999 SOCIETY History of Science at the 16th International Botanical Congress he 1999 International Botanical Congress in St. Louis, Missouri T received widespread news coverage, in part, for reports on the "Deep Green" project, which calls for a thorough revision of plant nomenclature. The St. Louis Congress, which was held under the auspices of the International Union ofBiological Sciences (IUBS), will be the so urce ofmuch debate among future historians, and, fortunately, was well attended by current historians ofscience. At the request of Dr. Peter Hoch, the Secretary-General of the 16'h International Botanical Congress, the History ofScience Sociery put our a call for symposia on the history of botany, resulting in the presentation of two historical sessions that were organized by HSS members. HSS member Karen Reeds, along with Staffan Muller-Wille, The Recent History of Botanical Science urator, Deursches Hygiene-Museum, Dresden organized the panel, Speakers and Organizers (I to r): Josef D. Ackerman, V. Betty "Fin de Siecle Botany." Seven historians of botany from the USA, Smocovitis, Nancy Slack, Kim Kleinman, Douglas Holland, Susan Canada, and Germany discussed the state of the discipline at the turn Pinar, Mark S. Lesney, and Ronald L. Stuckey. Photograph courtesy of past centuries before an audience of more than 100 plant scientists. of Ronald L. Stuckey The speakers included: John Riddle on medicinal botany at 100 CE; Karen Reeds on Leonardo, priming, and botany in 1500; Brian Introgressive Hybridization, and Evolutionary Theory in the 1940s," Ogilvie on changing methods and aims in descriptive botany ca. Mark Lesney, "Plants in Peril: Plant Protection and the Rise of 1600; Susan McMahon on the disciplinary transformation ofEnglish Biotechnology," Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis, "Botany at Harvard, botany ca. 1700; Staffan Muller-Wille on the pace and organization 1918-1950," Susan Pinar, "Hybrids for Hope: Cruz Gallastegui and of research afrer Linnaeus ca. 1800; and Mark Madison on the the Double Hybrids in Maize in Spain," and Doug Holland, "A Short incursion of evolution, genetics and ecology into the plant sciences History of Botany in ca. 1900. The seventh speaker, Sergio T oresella, who was to speak on the United States­ alchemical herbals ca. 1400, could not attend and was replaced by Thirty Years Longer." CONTENTS Frederick G. Meyer- the author of a newly published commentary HSS members October 1999 and facsimile reprint of the great sixteenth-century herbal ofLeonhart will have a chance to Fuchs- who spoke extemporaneously about the continuing value of visit St. Louis in 2000 when the fourth Fuchs's wo rk to botanists. News of the Society 2- 6 A second symposium, 'The Recent HistoryofBotanical Science," quadrennial British­ was organized by HSS member V. Betry Smocovitis andJosefDaniel N orth American News & Inquiries 8-10 Ackerman. This session examined the recent history of botany from a meeting convenes number of different directions in order to gain an appreciation of there 3-6 August. The Awards, Honors, & general trends in twentieth-century botanical research. It included conference will be Appointments 11 contributions from botanists and historians who explored the role of held in the beautiful individuals, institutions, organisms, and choice of research problems Hyatt Regency Union Jobs, Fellowships, Grants & Prizes various subdisciplines and fields of the botanical sciences. Speakers, Station and excursions 12- 18 nd the titles of their papers, included Ronald Stuckey "Botanical to the world-famous Future Meetings 18-19 History of North America: Important Contributions Chronicled for Missouri Botanical the Twentieth Century," Nancy Slack, "Life After Clements: Do Gardens will be on the ISIS Books Received 19-24 Plant Communities Still Exist?" Kim Kleinman, "Edgar Anderson, agenda. 2 History of Science Society Newsletter October 1999 News from the Executive Director History of Science Society Executive Office The 1999 annual meeting promises some special memories. In University of Washington addition to organizing a wonderful program, program chairs Edith Box 351330 Sylla and Frederick Gregory have suggested some unusual twists, such Seattle, Washington 98195-1330 as the "Historians' Predictions" board. Delegates will be encouraged to write down what they predict science, medicine, and HSS will look Phone: 206/543-9366 like in 25 years (when HSS will be celebrating its centennial), as well Fax: 206/685-9544 as in the next 100 years. A sample of these predictions will be printed e-mail: [email protected] in the Newsletter and posted on the Web site. In another unique Web site: http:lldepts. washington.edulhssexecl offering, a limited edition, 75 ch-anniversary poster will be available for purchase. The price for the poster will be kept low, to offset Physical address (Fed-Ex, UPS): production costs, so that every member will have the opportuniry to Johnson Hall, Room 226 own this meeting memento. Finally, a special dinner is being held for University of Washington current and past members of the HSS Executive Committee. This Seattle, Washington 98195-1330 event is being held to thank these members who have selflessly Subscription Inquiries: ISIS andHSS Newsletter furthered the interests of the History of Science Sociery. Please contact the University of Chicago Press directly, at: In the midst of our semisesquicentennial celebration, changes in [email protected], (fax) 773/753-0811, or write the HSS Newsletterare on the horizon. Members will have noticed that Universiry of Chicago Press, Subscription Fulfillment Manager, the "Isis books received" list has been posted on the HSS Web site over P.O. Box 37005, Chicago, IL 60637. the past year. This archived list offers members search abilities not available in the Newsletter. We will be redesigning the Newsletter and Moving? because the "Isis books received" section is expensive to produce, we Please notify both the HSS Executive Office and the University are considering eliminating this list from the Newsletter and carrying of Chicago Press at the above addresses. it only on the HSS Web site. However, the Newsletter is produced for HSS Newsletter Editorial Policies, Advertising, and Submissions the membership and the Isis list will not be removed if there is an The History ofScience Society Newsletter is published in January, outcry. Please let us know your thoughts on this matter. An exciting April, July, and October, and sent to all individual members of the addition to the Newsletter will be a new Education Column. This Sociery; those who reside outside ofNorthAmerica pay an additional column, developed by the HSS Committee on Education, will discuss resources and strategies for educational issues, thus strengthening our $5 annually to cover a portion of first-class airmail charges. The commitment to education at all levels as it relates to the history of Newsletter is available to nonmembers and institutions for $25 a science. The CoE believes that a regular intellectual space to discuss year. such issues will foster positive experiences in education and raise the The Newsletter is edited and desktop published by Melissa profile ofHSS in the world of education. We are fortunate that Paul Oliver in the Executive Office on an Apple Power Macintosh system Farber has agreed to serve as column editor. using Microsoft Word and Adobe PageMaker.The format and editorial policies are determined by the Executive Director in HST Database Changes consultation with the HSS Executive Committee. All advertising copy must be submitted camera-ready. Advertisements are accepted RLG is updating the Eureka interface that accesses the online on a space-available basis only, and the Sociery reserves the right not History ofScience , Technology and Medicine Database. This to accept a submission. The rates are as follows: new version of Eureka requires: Netscape Navigator 3 or 4, or Full page (9 x 7.5"), $350; Half page (4.5 x 7.5"), $200; Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 or 5 and JavaScript enabled in Quarter page (3 x 5"), $100. The deadline for insertion orders and your web browser. The new Eureka version service cannot be camera-ready copy is six weeks prior to the month of publication used with Windows 3.x because oflimitations in 16-bit W eb browsers, but the old interface will remain active for Windows (e. g., November 15 for the January Newsletter) and should be sent 3.x users for one year. The 32-bit Windows systems to the attention of the HSS Executive Office at the above address. (Windows95, Windows98, WindowsNT) can be used, as well HSS recommends that all camera-ready ads be sent via overnight or as the Macintosh and Unix operating systems, and do not have 2-day mail to the physical address above. this system limitation. The deadline for news, announcements, and job/fellowship/ REMINDER- The Isis Bibliography from 1975 to the prize listings is fi rm: The first of the month prior to the month present is ava il able online with the Research Libraries Group ofpublication. Long items (feature stories) should be submitted six (RLG). Members of the Sociery may access the RLG Web site, weeks prior to the month of publication as e-mail file attachments and the H istory of Science and Technology Database (HST) or on a 3.5"disk (along with a hard copy) . Please send all material thro ugh the HSS homepage http://depts.washington.edu/ to the attention ofMelissa Oliver at the HSS address above (e-mail hssexec/. RLG has ass igned us "Y6.G 19" as a "User Name" and or disk appreciated). "HSSDEMO" as a "Password." AMS Histories and Biographies The AMS continues to publish and distribute books of notable historical and biographical significance. These recently published titles represent several AMS book series, including History of Mathematics, AMS Chelsea Publishing, Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, and Mathematica/ World.
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