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Reaching Beyond the Discipline Melinda Gormley3, Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values, University of Notre Dame

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Reaching Beyond the Discipline Melinda Gormley3, Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values, University of Notre Dame Vol. 42, No. 1 EWS January 2013 N of the Historyletter of Science Society TABLE OF CONTENTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE (ALMOST) TEN WAYS HISTORY OF SCIENCE Notes from the Inside 4 MAKES A DIFFERENCE Article: The “Dinosaurs” Guide From the President, Lynn K. Nyhart 1. It puts a human face on science, reminding us that to Technology in the History Classroom 5 At the beginning of a new year, many of us resolve scientists are people like the rest of us. (In fact, it puts to make a difference in the world. We may seek to be many different human faces on science, which is a Article: That Was Then. This Is Now 8 kinder to others; to give more of ourselves; to work for good idea.) justice, democracy, health, and peace; to increase beauty. Article: Reaching Beyond the 2. It provides a long-term perspective on science-related Discipline 11 But how can we work as historians of science to make ideas and trends of which scientists themselves are Article: A Conversation with the a difference? Late December, as I write this, is a list- often unaware. It thus can reveal hidden connections making time of year. I have made two. American Historical Association’s to the past, and show how the past continues to bear Jim Grossman, 4 October 2012 13 The first aims at pithiness: a “top ten” list that we can on the present. Member News 15 post on our websites, blogs, and office doors. Something 3. It counters the naive view that “science = truth” by we can fall back on for friends, relatives, students treating science as part of particular cultures. Jobs, Opportunities, Fellowships 21 (and their parents!), people who walk into our offices, 4. It explores the historical contingencies by which Upcoming Conferences / Events 23 neighbors at parties — anyone who asks, “What is it scientific knowledge has been produced, stimulating you do? And what difference does it make?” News from the Profession 25 the insight that just as the past course of knowledge Sadly, though, I have come up with only nine ways. was not inevitably laid out, neither is the future. Please add one. Who knows, maybe we can generate 5. It investigates the place of science in the construction TWENTY ways! (Send your suggestions to me at of meaning—how we make sense of our world. [email protected]. Or post it on your blog, letting me 6. It broadens the humanities by showing their relevance know, and see what your friends come up with!) to science and industry. The second list is shorter, but less pithy: some of the 7. It attends to the relationships between science and changes we need to work on within the History of power, investigating both how science has come to Science Society to help us make more of a difference be culturally powerful and how people with power outside it, and what we’ve done so far. (whether financial, governmental, or religious) have shaped science. 8. It unearths and revivifies past cultural moments in which science has been made and used, shining a History of Science Society Newsletter History of Science Society MAKING A DIFFERENCE Continued from Page 1 EXECUTIVE OFFICE light on our own time by revealing similarities FOUR WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE History of Science Society and differences between past and present. 440 Geddes Hall IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE SOCIETY University of Notre Dame 9. It invites reflection on the leading values (SO WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Notre Dame, IN 46556 Phone: 574-631-1194; Fax: 574-631-1533 attached to science—the pursuit of greater BEYOND IT) E-mail: [email protected] understanding of nature and the instrumental Web site: http://www.hssonline.org/ goal of improving the world. 1. Foster relationships with historians of SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES science outside of academia. Historians University of Chicago Press 10. ?? [Your statement here!] Phone: 877-705-1878; Fax 877-705-1879 of science who work outside academia are This list reflects the view that our main E-mail: [email protected] more apt to connect and communicate with Or write: University of Chicago Press, difference-making capacity lies in changing the Subscription Fulfillment Manager, PO Box different sectors of our society. Moreover, way people think about science and its place in 37005, Chicago, IL 60637-7363 in an age of PhD overproduction, we need our world (and for that matter, history and its Moving? to help history of science PhD and MA Please notify both the HSS Executive Office and place in the world), rather than precipitating holders prepare for and find work outside the University of Chicago Press. direct, immediate action. This sort of difference- academia. Since many of us who run things EDITORIAL POLICIES, ADVERTISING AND making has few metrics, but it is vital to fostering in this profession have little or no experience SUBMISSIONS a culture that values both history and science. The History of Science Society Newsletter is in this realm, we need to lean on those published in January, April, July, and October, There are no guarantees, however, that anyone who have such experience; we call on your and sent to all individual members of the Society. except historians of science will see this list or The Newsletter is edited and published in the practical advice and moral support. We need Executive Office. The format and editorial policies understand it. So how do we get the word out, to begin by discovering who you are. We are determined by the Executive Director in beyond the captive audience that many in our consultation with the Committee on Publications can make a start with our revamped HSS and the Society Editor. All advertising copy must profession have in the classroom? website, to be rolled out over the coming be submitted in electronic form. Advertisements are accepted on a space-available basis only, As I suggested a year ago in this space, I think months (thanks to Fred Gibbs and Alex and the Society reserves the right not to print a we need to change who we think of as “us.” To Wellerstein), where we plan a space for people submission. The rates are as follows: Full page (7 make a difference in the world, we need to make outside academia to give short accounts x 9.25”), $625; Horizontal or Vertical Half page (7 x 4.6”), $375; Quarter page (3.5 x 4.6”), $225. a difference in the history of science profession. of what they’re doing now. Tania Munz The deadline for insertion orders is six weeks So here’s another list: an interim report on what’s ([email protected]) and Carin prior to the month of publication and should be sent to the attention of the HSS Executive Office. going on in the History of Science Society that Berkowitz ([email protected]) The deadline for news, announcements, and job/ might facilitate broadening who “we” are. If are heading up an initiative for “HSS Outside fellowship/ prize listings is firm: Six weeks prior to the month of publication. Long items (feature you’re interested in helping out with one or more the Academy,” focused on people who have stories) should be submitted eight weeks prior of these initiatives, please contact Jay Malone at left the traditional academic path for other to the month of publication. Please send all [email protected] careers, whether history of science-related or material to the attention of the executive office: . [email protected]. not. The aims are multiple: to explore how © 2012 by the History of Science Society 2 History of Science Society Newsletter • January 2013 History of Science Society Newsletter MAKING A DIFFERENCE Continued from Page 2 the Society might continue to be relevant with the annual meeting. But there are other 4. Increase the diversity of the Society. We and interesting to such individuals; to open possibilities, too: perhaps we could open our can make more of a difference beyond our up a platform at meetings for broader ways plenary session to the public, or our Society community if we’re more diverse inside it. The of thinking about history of science and the lecture. How can we re-imagine the meeting responses to the climate survey that went out world; and to build a network of “Friends of to expand our sense of “us”? last fall are still being analyzed, but should the Field” that might serve as an important 3. Provide up-to-date educational resources give us a solid demographic baseline that resource for mentoring those who are facing on the web, for both college-level and K-12 we have hitherto lacked concerning gender, similar choices. The tasks are numerous: to teachers. Erika Milam reported at the 2012 sexuality, race, and ethnicity. Of course, simple develop an area on the website to showcase Women’s Caucus breakfast that the caucus’s observation at meetings shows that we lack work of historians of science that is not in syllabus project (a dozen syllabi on different racial diversity. Initiatives from a decade ago traditional academic book and article forms; topics in women and gender and STM: (and longer) did not take root. While changing to list jobs that relate to but are outside of http://hsswc.weebly.com/syllabus-project. this homogeneity probably needs to be fostered traditional history of science fields; and to html) had by far the highest traffic on the mainly at the level of individual graduate contact people who have “left the field” or Women’s Caucus’s new website.
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