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I {!STORY OFSOENCE .Jjrnu.O.LUME·AR-V.~T.Gs.~-·B·ER-L ______SQOETY ISSN 0739-4934 NEWSLETTER I {!STORY OFSOENCE .JJrnu.o.LUME·AR-v.~t.gs.~-·B·ER-l ___________ SQOETY NEW CHALLENGE FOR HSSEXECUTIVE HISTORY OF SCIENCE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT EDWARD GRANT, Indiana University HIS1DRY OF SCIENCE IS IN THE NEWS. And with its more salient position VICE-PRESIDENT come new challenges and opportunities. Wll.LIAM COLEMAN, University of In late November the nation's press reported on a National Endowment for the Wisconsin - Madison Humanities (NEHJ document that emphasized the study of the history of science SECRETARY and technology as a key to understanding Western culture. The report was but AUDREY DAVIS, Smithsonian Institution one high point in the growing recognition of the "integral role" played by TREASURER "knowledge and uses of the physical and the biological" in Western civilization SPENCER R. WEART, American Institute - to quote from a recent report by Nathan Reingold to the American Council of . of Physics Learned Societies (ACLSJ on the place of history of science in the NEH mission. EDITOR As History of Science Society members well know, in 1983 the NEH made an ARNOLD THACKRAY, University of $80,000 challenge grant to the HSS Fund Drive. The society has risen to that Pennsylvania challenge, obtaining the necessary $240,000 of funds to match the NEH chal­ lenge in record time. The NEH report issues a second, more complex challenge to all historians of science. Written by William J. Bennett and released 25 Novem­ The History of Science Society was founded in 1924 to secure the future of Isis, the international ber 1984, the report lists six basic requirements as "essential to a college educa- review that George Sarton (1884-1956) had founded in Belgium in 1912. The Society seeks to COIItinued on page 8 foster interest in the history of science and its so­ cial and cultural relations, to provide a forum fur discussion, and to promote scholarly research in the history of science. The Society pursues these objectives by the publication of its journal Isis, by the support and subvention of other forms of schol­ arly publication, by the organization of annual meetings and other programs, by the award of medals and prizes fur outstanding contributions to the history of science, by the encouragement and sponsorship of local and regional sections of the Society, and by cooperation with other learned and ·scientific societies. IN TillS ISSUE navel Support for Berkeley 2 Osiris Volumes 4 An informal luncheon get-together of the HSS Committee on Publications and the Isis staff, during the rommittee 's meeting in Philodelphia, 25-26 October 1984. FULL CONTENTS ON LAST PAGE Shown are Sally Kohlstedt, David Lindberg, foe Dauben, Frances Kohler, Daniel Kevles, Liz Cooper, and Bruce Lewenstein. See page 8 for more. page2 History ol Sdeftce Sodety Newsletter POSITIONS Travel Support for the XVllth International Congress of History of Science, Berkeley, 1985 The Publication Office of the History of Science Society has an opening for an edi­ torial assistant for a one-year, half-time An announcement from Gerald Holton position beginning 1 July 1985. The edito­ rial assistant participates in every aspect I expected to use this space to inform you residents of the United States, Canada, or of the publication process, with special at­ about several new and significant pro­ Mexico, and the maximum for each sub­ tention to proofreading, promotions, and grams that the Society is now able to sidy will be $400. Preference will be given office management. The assistant must launch (e.g., a lectureship series, a loan to HSS members, and to persons not in be an accepted candidate in the Ph.D. pro­ fund for young researchers). But this re­ tenured positions (including students or gram in the History and Sociology of Sci­ port will have to wait for the next News­ unemployed). ence at the University of Pennsylvania. letter because the space is needed for a Th apply for such an HSS grant, write Previous experience in the history of sci­ more urgent announcement just as the quickly, and no later than 1 February ence, in editorial work, and in the use of Newsletter goe~ to press. 1985, to the HSS Coordinator of Pro­ microcomputers is preferred though not To give the background: I have been grams, Professor Joseph Dauben, Herbert required. The stipend is $7,200 plus tui­ concerned that the contraction of funds, H. Lehman College of CUNY, Bedford tion. In the second year the assistant may particularly in academic life, would make Park Blvd. West, Bronx, NY 10468. As be offered the position of Editorial Coordi­ it difficult for many people at the early your application, send a brief curriculum nator (also half-time), for which the sti­ stages of their careers to afford the cost of vitae that also lists a few recent publica­ pend is $7,800 plus tuition. The Editorial travel in addition to registration and ac­ tions, if any, and the title of work in pro­ Coordinator plays a major role in the pro­ commodations at the XVllth International gress. Staple to this a cover sheet (one duction of Isis and Osiris, in distribution Congress, to be held in Berkeley, Califor­ page) that displays the following informa­ and back issue sales, in long-range plan­ nia, 31 July-8 August 1985. (To make tion clearly: your name, addresses (home ning, and in coordination of the office. matters worse, the NSF does not subsidize and office or school) and telephone num­ Applicants should submit a letter outlin­ such travel to an international congress bers; birthdate, title, and employer (if ing their academic experience and indica­ held in the United States; moreover, there any); whether a student-or if not, your ting the relevance of the assistantship to are two meetings in 1985, the other being highest degree, with date; a paragraph on their graduate work and future plans to the HSS's own annual meeting in the fall why you wish to go and how you expect Dr. Arnold Thackray, Editor, Isis, 215 of 1985 at Indiana University, to profit from attendance at the Berkeley South 34th Street/D6, Philadelphia, PA Bloomington - see "Calls for Papers!') Congress; one reference who may be con­ 19104, by 1 February 1985. The candi­ The absence of younger scholars would tacted on your scholarly work (if you have date's letter to the Editor weighs heavily deprive not only them but also the foreign few publications); a few lines telling in the selection process. Applicants from scholars who will attend. I am therefore whether you will be able to pay the other all countries are welcome. Candidates glad to report that the Walter &. Elise Haas costs of the congress (see below); and, fi­ will be sent the forms by which to seek Fund has just granted our application for nally, the approximate cost of an admission to the University of Pennsylva­ funds to support such travel. Up to fifty of economy-class round-trip airfare from nia Department of History and Sociology our best young scholars in the history of wherever you expect to be in June 1985. of Science. science, technology, and medicine can be I hope our Society will add further pro­ selected by the HSS, on a competitive ba­ grams of value to its members in the fu­ sis. Each can receive the equivalent of the ture. economy-class round-trip airfare (plus rea­ Brandeis University announces the estab­ sonable ground transportation) to the San lishment of the Bern and Barbara Dibner Francisco Bay area. Applicants should be GERALD HOLIDN Chair in the History of Science, whose holder will be expected to teach courses in the history of science in the depart­ ment of history and to take part in the in­ terdisciplinary program in the history of The registration fee for the Berkeley papers, do not contact HSS or Professor Western thought. Applicants must be for­ congress is $60 for students, $120 for oth­ Dauben, but write immediately for the mally trained in the history of science and ers if the registration is received at Berke­ current circular from Kim Davis, Confer­ be capable of handling materials from the ley before 1 March. The accommodations ence Coordinator, XVllth International medieval period to the twentieth century. for eight days, including room and most Congress for History of Science, Office of Preference will be given to candidates meals, run from $189.75 up. For all addi­ History of Science and Technology, 470 whose field of specialization is the biolog­ tional information on the Berkeley con­ Stephens Hall, University of California, ical or physical sciences in the nineteenth gress, including registration form, costs, Berkeley, CA 94720; telephone (415) 642" and twentieth centuries. Applicants must deadlines, and procedure for submitting 4581, telex 910-366-7114. possess the qualifications necessary for a tenured appointment at the associate or full professor rank. Inquiries should be January 1985 pagc3 sent to ProfessorS. S. Schweber, Chair­ ence during the summer of 1985. Candi­ person, Dibner Chair Search Committee, dates must have a Ph.D. and a strong c/o Department of Physics, Brandeis Uni­ HSS Election News record of excellence in teaching. The ap­ versity, Waltham, MA 02254. Brandeis is The new Vice-President is William Col­ pointee will teach one course in the Mas­ I an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action eman. The new members of Council to ter of Letters program of the Graduate Employer. serve through 1987 are Muriel L. Blais­ School {20 June to 2 August) and partici­ dell, Robert G. Frank, Jr., Judith V. Gra­ pate in the colloquium series of the New The Center for History of Physics at the biner, Timothy Lenoir, and Jeffrey L.
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