SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION and the
HISTORY OF SCIENCE
A Conference at the Royal Society,
6 Carlton House Terrace, London W1
12-13 July 2000
Arranged by the British Society for the History of Science
with support from the Royal Society
This meeting comes at a time of re-appraisal of the `public
understanding' of science, of renewed discussion about the form
and purposes of science education in schools, and of increasing popular
interest in history of science, catalysed by Dava Sobel's _Longitude_,
Michael Frayn's _Copenhagen_ and various other works. Since the way
we represent its past plays a significant role in framing contemporary
attitudes towards science, it is important to examine critically the role
of history of science in these public contexts. This conference will bring
together leading science communicators, educationists and historians of
science for a critical examination of the ways in which history of science is
used in popular writing, in the media, in museums and in schools. It will also
ask whether public representations of the history of science adequately reflect
current historical scholarship, and explore various initiatives worldwide which
seek to promote improved communication of recent work in the history of
science.
Conference themes include:
. Science and its publics: an historical overview
. History of science in popular science writing
. Perspectives encountered in museums and science centres
. Science, history of science and the media
. Schoolbooks and syllabuses: recent developments and future plans
. Using history to represent `other voices' in communication about science.
A session on history of science in literature and the arts will be
held at the British Academy, when academics and authors will join a
panel discussion of the current interest in this field. Participants
are also invited to attend Prof. Roy Porter's Royal Society Wilkins
Lecture on the evening of 11 July (title: 'Reflections on scientific
and medical futurology since the time of John Wilkins').
Conference speakers include:
Dr. Jim Bennett (Director, Museum of History of Science, University of
Oxford); Prof Geoffrey Cantor (University of Leeds) Prof. Rick Duschl
(Science and Technology Education Unit, Kings College London) Prof.
Kostas Gavroglu (University of Athens; co-ordinator of an EU project
which has established a history of science syllabus in Greek high
schools); Dr Paula Gould (Young Science Writer of the Year, 1997).
Prof. Susan Greenfield (Director, Royal Institution); Martin Hollins
(Qualifications and Curriculum Authority); Andrew Hunt (NEAB AS-level
syllabus in Science for Public Understanding); Prof. Bruce Lewenstein
(Cornell University; Editor of Public Understanding of Science); Christine
McGourty (Science and Technology Correspondent, BBC News). Dr. Steve
Miller (University College London; co-author of Science in Public:
Communication, Culture and Credibility (1998)); Dr. Melanie Quin (Techniquest,
Cardiff); Prof. Joan Solomon (Centre for Science Education, Open University);
Dr. Jon Turney (University College, London); Dr. Andrew Warwick (Imperial
College, London).
Based on papers made available beforehand, sessions will consist
mainly of discussion of issues arising from those papers, introduced
by the contributors from the different fields. More details of the
programme and associated papers will be made available on the BSHS web
site: http://www.bshs.org.uk
Call for associated papers
In addition to the contributions already arranged the organisers are
inviting proposals for papers related to the themes listed. After
review, those papers which are accepted will be made available in the
a pre-conference web-based collection of papers. To propose such a
paper, e-mail your abstract of not more than 300 words to Jeff Hughes
<[log in to unmask]>, from whom further details are also
available.
Conference Office:
31 High St, Stanford in the Vale, Faringdon, Oxon, SN7 8LH, U.K.
[log in to unmask]
________________________________________________________________
REGISTRATION:
Please fill in details below and post to the BSHS Executive Secretary,
31 High Street, Stanford in the Vale, Faringdon, Oxon, SN7 8LH, U.K.
I wish to register for Science Communication, Education and the
History of Science (The registration fee includes morning and
afternoon refreshments each day. Lunches at the Royal Society are also
available, if pre-booked).
Conference fee
stlg45 (or for BSHS members stlg30 Student members: stlg15) stlg ___
Lunches (please tick) Weds stlg10 __Thurs stlg10 ___ _ stlg___.
Total stlg ______
Accommodation in London for the nights of 11th and/or 12th July:
Please tick if you wish to receive information about accommodation
___..
I enclose a cheque payable to The British Society for the History of
Science, for the total sum of stlg______ / Please debit my VISA/MASTER
card for the sum of stlg _______
Card no: ______ ______ ______ ______
Expiry date ___..
Signed ____. Date____.
Title and Name in full:
Institutional affiliation
Address
Telephone Email
Details and a registration form will also be circulated with the BSHS
Newsletter.
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Dr. Jeff Hughes
Lecturer in History of Science & Technology
CHSTM, Maths Tower, The University,
Manchester. M13 9PL. UK
Tel: 0161 275 5857; 07710 224 855 (m)
Fax: 0161 275 5699
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