ISSN 0739-4934 NEWSLETTER I IISTORY OFSOENCE .~.o.~.~.~.~.Js.4 ..N· u·M·B·ER.. 2............ _________ S00E~~ 1984 HSS EXECUTIVE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ADDRESS PRESIDENT EDWARD GRANT, Indiana University VICE-PRESIDENT WILLIAM COLEMAN, University of BY GERALD HOLTON Wisconsin - Madison SECRETI\RY AUDREY DAVIS, Smithsonian Institution DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL HSS BANQUET, 1REASURER PALMER HOUSE HOTEL, Cl-ITCAGO, SPENCER R. WEART, American Institute of Physics 29 DECEMBER 1985 EDITOR ARNOLD THACKRAY, University of Pennsylvania It is surely appropriate, and should routinely be the case, that a retiring presi­ dent of a professional society give some accounting of his stewardship. Which The History of Science Society was founded in of the expectations raised four years earlier, when he ran for office, have been 1924 to secure the future of Isis, the international reasonably fulfilled? Which of the promises were kept, and which proved to be review that George Sarton (1884-19561 bad too difficult for the time being, despite best efforts? Where does the Society now founded in Belgium in 1912. The Society seeks to stand, viewed as an organization whose main purpose is to support the work foster interest in the history of science and its so­ cial and cultural relations, to provide a forum for and careers of its members? And what must still be done in this period of discussion, and to promote scholarly research in growth, by each of us pitching in on some task? the history of science. The Society pursues these To discuss these issues is to point out the opportunities for your personal and objectives by the publication of its journal Isis, by continued involvement in the affairs of our Society. Operationally, the term the support and subvention of other forms of schol­ "Society" has no meaning except in the activities of its individual members. arly publication, by the organization of annual meetings and other programs, by the award of And I preface this call to work with the reminder that there has hardly ever medals and prizes for outstanding contributions to been a better time for our field to benefit from an investment of your time and the history of science, by the encouragement and energy. A fair wind is in our sails. More members belong than ever, and more sponsorship of local and regional sections of the good work is being done at more centers in academe and outside. In addition, Society, and by cooperation with other leamed and the world at large seems to have noticed our existence. Thus, the NEH Report scientific societies. on the state of the humanities, released 25 November 1984, proposed that "all students should study the history of science and technology." In the Congress, the "Report of the Task Force on Science Policy to the Committee on Science IN TI-llS ISSUE and Technology" (December 1984) proclaims-albeit within narrow limits-the Federal Funding-Action Needed 2 use of history to inform the demands of the present: Fund Drive Supporters 4 "The point of departure for the proposed Science Policy Study should, we believe, Committee on Publications 12 be a thoughtful review of the developments that have brought American sci- FULL CONTENTS ON LAST PAGE Continued on page 17 page2 History of Science Society Newsletter NEWS FROM WASHING10N FEDERAL FUNDING: TIME FOR ACTION BY STEPHEN G. BRUSH, Washington Representative of HSS Federal funding for the history and philos­ · tory and Philosophy of Science, which is NEH bills that they are considering, ophy of science, technology; and medicine not oruy a growth stock intellectually but please provide me with the following could increase substantially this year, but has the distinctive role of helping to keep information: (1) name, address, and tele­ there is also a strong possibility that re­ all the sciences self-critical" (COSSA phone number(s) at which you can be lated programs in ethics, values, and the Washington Update, 15 Feb. 1985]: But reached; (2) name of the congressperson humanities may be cut back or elimi­ the elimination of EVIST is ominous, for who represents the district in which you nated. The outcome will depend on what those who might otherwise applaud the live and also (if different) the district in Congress does in the next few weeks, and increase in HPS funding, as well as for which your institution is located; (3) what National Science Foundation (NSF) those who have been supported by that names of any other members of Congress and National Endowment for the Human­ program. In the hearing before the House with whom you have had personal con­ ities (NEH) administrators do during the subcommittee that considers the NSF tact or correspondence, or whom you next year as they revise priorities and authorization, NSF Director Erich Bloch know to have a special interest in history guidelines in response to budget changes. stated that EVIST-type work no longer of science (see coupon below). In order to provide rapid and effective needs its own "sheltered" program; this If you are particularly interested in input into this process, I am compiling a research can be funded in other NSF pro­ EVIST, you should write also to Senator list of historians of science and others grams such as the social and behavioral Edward Kennedy, Senator John Kerry, who are willing to write letters to con­ sciences. Professional societies have taken Senator Alfred Gore, Jr., Senator Lowell gressional committees and to their own over the "whistle-blowing" role that was Weicker, and to the Director of NSF, Erich representatives in Congress. Below is a formerly a function of the EVIST commu­ Bloch. list of the committees that consider au­ nity. COSSA concluded that "some pro­ I would also appreciate receiving blind thorization and appropriations bills for posals that might have been funded by copies of letters that you write to any NSF and NEH, with a geographical index EVIST may be eligible for funding from members of Congress on this subject, appended of members of Congress who information science, history and philoso­ along with your views on the problem of belong to these committees, so that you phy of science, sociology; computer re­ federal funding of history of science and may check representation from your search, biotechnology; or several others" the best ways to promote it. Please mail state. (COSSA Washington Update, 22 Feb. information to S. G. Brush, IPST, Univer­ The current administration budget 1985). sity of Maryland, College Park, MD proposes to increase the total funding for The House Subcommittee on Science, 20742. social and economic science within NSF Research, and Technology will be com­ by about 19 percent; to increase funding pleting its markup of the NSF authoriza­ for the History and Philosophy of Science tion bill by the end of March. The full Congressional Committees for NSF & (HPS) in NSF by about 30 percent to Committee on Science and Technology, NEH Legislation about $2.2 million (note that HPS has chaired by Don Fuqua (D-FL), will then Code letters in left column are used to taken on the responsibility of funding the act. The Subcommittee on Housing and identify committee members below. editing of the Einstein papers at $150,000 Urban Development (HUD) and Indepen­ per year for several years, which accotints dent Agencies of the House Appropria­ U.S. House of Representatives, for a significant part of the increase); to tions Committee has already started to Washington, DC 20515 eliminate funding for Ethics and Values in hold hearings on this bill, and its mem­ Science and Technology (EVIST), previ­ bers are listed below. According to the NSF Authorization ously about $1 million per year; and to COSSA Washington Update (8 March H-SRT Subcommittee on Science, reduce total NEH funding by 10 percent. 1985), when this subcommittee held Research & Technology · Historians of science now receive support hearings on the NSF appropriation, its (Committee on Science & from almost every part of NEH, including chairman, Representative Edward Boland, Technology)-Chair: Doug the relatively small Humanities, Science "asked several questions concerning the Walgren (D-PA). and Technology (HST) program, which large increase for social and economic Hearings were held on 20 & 21 will be cut from $700,000 to $650,000; science research, specifically in the eco­ February. education and research programs will be nomics and history and philosophy of NSF Appropriation reduced 17 percent but fellowship pro­ science programs. He appeared satisfied H-HIA Subcommittee on HUD & Inde­ grams including Summer Seminars will with the justifications made by Dr. David pendent Agencies-Chair: be increased about 6 percent. Kingsbury, Director of the Biological, Edward P. Boland (D-MAJ. In commenting on the budget, the Behavioral and Social Science Directorate NEH Authorization newsletter of the Consortium of Social at NSF." H-PSE Subcommittee on Postsecondary Science Associations (COSSA) said: If you are willing to write to your own Education (Committee on Educa­ "There is . a notable increase in His- representatives in Congress and to chair­ tion & Labor)-Chair: William persons of subcommittees about NSF and Ford (D-MIJ. Aprill985 page3 NEH Appropriation Bruce (D) H-SRT and H-PSE; Paul North Carolina: William W. Cobey, Jr. (R) H-INT Interior Subcommittee-Chair: Simon (D) S-LHR and S-EAH H-SRT; Tim Valentine (D) H-SRT Sidney Yates (O-IL). Hearings Indiana: Dan Quayle (R) S-LHR and North Dakota: Mark Andrews (R) S-INT; were held for public witnesses S-EAH Quentin N . Burdick (D) S-INT 2.0 March; for agency witnesses Iowa: Thomas Tauke (R) H-PSE; Charles Ohio: Ralph Regula (R) H-INT; Howard 2.3 April. Grassley (R) S-LHR and S-EAH M. Metzenbaum (D) S-LHR; Louis Kansas: Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R) Stokes (D) H-HIA U.S.