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Enquiries Into the History of Geology Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ by guest on September 29, 2021 Introduction: enquiries into the history of geology WOLF MAYER ANU Emeritus Faculty, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia [email protected] Gold Open Access: This article is published under the terms of the CC-BY 3.0 license. The International Commission on the History of of those who carried out such work, form part of Geological Sciences was founded in 1967 at a meet- these sections. Further articles discuss the educa- ing in Yerevan, Armenia. After an initial attempt to tional benefits of teaching the history of the geosci- form an association of historians of geology at the ences and the contribution of women to this field International Geological Congress (IGC) in Copen- of study. hagen in 1960, a fresh proposal was approved at the following IGC in New Delhi, in 1964. Steps were then taken that led to the formal establishment of Fifty years of INHIGEO INHIGEO at Yerevan three years later. The realization of this project owed much to the Drawing on documents held in Russian archives, foresight and determination of the eminent Russian Malakhova (2017) outlines the sequence of events historian of geology, V.V. Tikhomirov (1915–94). that led to the founding of INHIGEO and discusses He was a passionate promoter of the study of the his- the conduct of the Commission’s affairs during the tory of the geological sciences and was tireless in his early years following its establishment. Her paper efforts to establish an organization that would facil- emphasizes the major part played by V.V. Tikho- itate and encourage scholarship in this field. Follow- mirov in realizing the formation of this scholarly ing its foundation, Tikhomirov became INHIGEO’s association. This remarkable man adopted and first president and served it for many years. built on the earlier views of his countryman V. V. The formation of the Commission led to closer Vernadsky (Malakhova 2017) when he stated that links and better cooperation among the worldwide the study of the history of geology could not be suc- community of scholars with an interest in the his- cessfully accomplished in isolation, within any one tory of the geological sciences. Regular meetings country, but relied on contributions from scholars (now on an annual basis) with accompanying excur- across the world, and that the founding of an inter- sions to locations of geological and cultural interest national organization of historians, with an interest greatly facilitated the sharing of research results and in this field of study, would be the best way to fur- the interchange of ideas among members. During ther this cause. the Commission’s early years these symposia also Grigelis & Czarniecki (2016) add personal rec- contributed to a relaxation in the, at times, uneasy ollections of their involvement and of their respec- relationship between scientists from the East and tive roles in the lead-up to the foundation of West. INHIGEO and trace its progress during the early INHIGEO’s declared aim to promote studies on years. This article includes photographs as well as the history of geology have born rich fruit, not least caricatures of some of the first office-bearers, the in the form of a large number of publications that latter attesting to the fact that such meetings can have provided greater recognition among research- also have a humorous side. The accompanying ers of the value and relevance of historical studies excursions to sites of geological and cultural interest to present day research in geology. in the neighbourhood of Yerevan set the tone for In the first section of this book contributors field trips conducted as part of future INHIGEO examine the path that led to the establishment of gatherings (see also Johnston & Taylor 2016). INHIGEO and its subsequent history. The succeed- Bork & Cooper (2016) (INHIGEO Secretary- ing parts of the book present essays on a range of Generals from 2004 to 2008 and 2008 to 2016, themes relating to the history of geology, which pro- respectively) cover the history of the Commission’s vide insights into early views on the processes oper- affairs in more recent times. During the 26-year ating within the Earth and on its surface. The history interval between the INHIGEO meeting held in of ideas on geological phenomena, studies of the Freiberg in 1970 (Grigelis 2017; Malakhova exploration and assessment of resources in diverse 2017) and 1996, when Bork & Cooper (2016) com- countries, together with bibliographical sketches mence their substantive account, the fledgling From:Mayer, W., Clary, R. M., Azuela, L. F., Mota,T.S.&Wołkowicz, S. (eds) History of Geoscience: Celebrating 50 Years of INHIGEO. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 442, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP442.41 # 2017 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. Publishing disclaimer: www.geolsoc.org.uk/pub_ethics Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ by guest on September 29, 2021 W. MAYER organization had proved itself to be a stable, well- at the time the work was performed. In doing so, managed and highly regarded entity that served its he notes his early uneasiness about the direction members well. INHIGEO’s name was modified, and activities of INHIGEO and advocates a path substituting ‘Commission’ for the original ‘Com- leading to a balance between the scientific and his- mittee’. Following the first three INHIGEO meet- torical approaches to the study of the history ings, held in countries of the Eastern Block, of geology. subsequent symposia were organized in Western Europe, North and South America and Asia. These meetings and their associated field trips, initially Writing about the history of the geological scheduled on a biennial basis, became annual gath- sciences erings from 1989. The authors briefly comment on the stewardship Historians of geoscience direct their research to of their predecessors as Secretary-General, Ursula past achievements in their field of study and seek Marvin (1988–96) and David Oldroyd (1996– to trace and evaluate the efforts of earlier thinkers 2004). It was during Marvin’s time in this role that and investigators of the nature of the Earth – the barrier of the Berlin Wall was removed and whether they were lay or learned people. The find- the Soviet Union broke up, which facilitated travel ings from past enquiries, which extend back over and ease of communication between scholars from millennia to the ancient world, have benefited the the East and West. It was also during this period following generations of scholars in their attempts that INHIGEO changed its rules on governance to record, interpret and understand the history of and membership of the organization, creating a our planet. more open and democratic association. From as early as the beginning of the nineteenth As fieldwork constitutes a vital part of geologi- century, scholars have written historical accounts cal investigations, it is not surprising that the foun- of knowledge acquired by the examination and ders of INHIGEO decreed that excursions to sites interpretation of geological phenomena, and of the of geological and cultural interest should form an investigators who engaged in such work (see, for essential part of its meetings. All INHIGEO sympo- example, Cuvier 1825). A number of these studies sia (with the exception of the abandoned Prague encompass the entire field of geology, whereas meeting) featured field trips, many with a duration others deal mainly with the history of one of its of several days. Johnston & Taylor (2016),inan subdisciplines. appendix to their paper, provide a comprehensive Works with a broad coverage of the history of record of excursions associated with INHIGEO geology include those of Adams (1954), Ellenberger symposia, including their respective themes and (1988, 1994) and Rudwick (2005, 2014). These pub- the localities visited. The authors comment on nota- lications provide readers with insights into the ble excursions and highlight those where the theme thinking and views of investigators into the nature of the conference was conveniently matched and of the physical Earth and on their interpretation of illustrated by nearby geological features in the former life forms preserved in rocks, from ancient field. In light of the fact that historians, albeit in Greek and Roman times to more recent years. The small numbers, take part in geological excursions information supplied by the authors allows the alongside geoscientists, the authors’ discussion of reader to reach an understanding of the advances the different mind sets that the former tend to made in geological knowledge over the centuries bring to an investigation of geological phenomena and familiarizes them with the main actors involved in the field will be of interest to all historians in these scholarly endeavours. of geoscience. Geological Societies, which were founded from These differences in approach to the study of the the start of the nineteenth century, have been of con- history of geoscience, with reference to the work and siderable importance in facilitating debate on geo- aims of INHIGEO and its members, are discussed logical topics and disseminating the results of by Rudwick (2016). Interwoven with an absorbing freshly acquired knowledge on the subject. The old- account of his own career path from scientist to his- est of these, the Geological Society of London, was torian of science, the author examines the methods formed in 1807. Gordon Herries Davies (2007) that are commonly followed by the majority of geol- chronicled its history over a period of 100 years, a ogists studying the history of this scientific disci- time during which its publications included many pline – and finds them wanting. He deplores the reports on new research findings that had a major practice that evaluates the work of earlier scholars impact on our understanding of the Earth (see also on the basis of present day scientific knowledge articles on this subject in this book).
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