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(posted on behalf of Alexis de Greiff)

Second Announcement

Workshop: Theoretical Physics and Mathematics in Twentieth-century
Political Contexts

Milan (Italy)
25 (9.00-17.00)-26 (9.00-13.00) May, 2001

Aims:
Being a gathering of scholars concerned with the history of
theoretical physics and mathematics to consider and discuss various
questions related to the relationship between theoretical scientists
and politics in the twentieth century.

How did the political environment in different national and
international arenas affect the research and pedagogical practices;
how did the political situation in Europe affect the migration
patterns of European scientists to countries other than the United
States; what was the ascribed role to theoretical physicists and
mathematicians with relation to national security and/or development
of their or adoptive countries; what role did they actually play; how
did theoretical scientists negotiate their own status in view of the
growing interests of the state in science and technology; what is the
main difference between scientific internationalism as it was
conceived and practised before and after World War II? These are some
of the questions the workshop will attempt to answer.

It is expected that the proceedings of the workshop will be published.

Schedule:

24 MAY (THURSDAY)

6.00-7.30 p.m.  Reception

At the Istituto di Fisica Generale Applicata and a visit to
Schiaparelli's observatory (Palazzo Brera)


25 MAY (FRIDAY)


9.30- 12.30 a.m.                Theoretical Physicists and Mathematicians meet
Fascism

"Physics and mathematics in Spain (1900-1960s), a complex and
politically conditioned relationship" Jose Manuel Sanchez-Ron
(Universidad Autonoma de Madrid)

"The Italian Case: new physics and fascism"
Giovanni Battimelli (Universita "La Sapienza" di Roma)

"Italian Mathematics in the fascist years"
Angelo Guerraggio (Universita Commerciale "Luigi Bocconi")

Discussant: Umberto Bottazzini (Universita di Pavia)
Chairperson: Pasquale Tucci (Universita degli Studi di Milano)


12.30-2.00      Lunch


2.00- 4.30 p.m. Theoretical Physicists and Mathematicians meet
Stalinism

"Exact scientists in and out of the Soviet Union, 1929-1937, through
the cases of Herman Muntz and Guido Beck" Eduardo L. Ortiz (Imperial
College, London)

"Socialist Realist Physics: Lev Landau and the Dilemmas of Theory in
Stalin's Day" Karl Hall (San Diego State University, San Diego)

Discussant: Michelangelo De Maria (Universita "La Sapienza" di Roma)
Chairperson: Pasquale Tucci (Universita degli Studi di Milano)



4.30-5.00       Coffee Break


5.30-7.00 p.m.  Special Session

Andrew Warwick will present his forthcoming book: Masters of Theory: A
Pedagogical History of Mathematical Physics at Cambridge University,
1760-1930 (University of Chicago Press, 2001)

Chairperson: t.b.a.


7.00-_  Dinner




26 MAY (SATURDAY)


9.00-11.00 a.m. Theoretical Physicists, the Cold War and the Third
World

"Putting the 'Big' into 'Big Science': Cold War Requisitions,
Scientific Manpower, and the Production of American Physicists after
World War II" David Kaiser (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

"Creating a centre to collaborate in theoretical physics in Trieste
(1960-1963): international, national and local contexts" Alexis De
Greiff (Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Imperial College, London)

Discussant: Andrew Warwick (Imperial College)
Chairperson: t.b.a.


11.00-11.30 a.m.        Coffee Break


11.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.    Round Table

"Should we think in comparative studies in the history of
Twentieth-century physics and Mathematics? Methodological,
historiographic and institutional approaches"

All the speakers will participate.
Open discussion.


1.00 Lunch and a visit to the Pinacoteca di Brera


Venue:

"Auletta",  Istituto di Fisica Generale Applicata Universita' degli
Studi di Milano Via Brera 28, Milano



Convenors:

Alexis De Greiff (Observatorio Astronomico Nacional, Universidad
Nacional de Colombia; Centre for the History of Science, Technology
and Medicine, Imperial College, London)

Pasquale Tucci (Istituto di Fisica Generale Applicata-Sezione di
Storia della Fisica, Universita degli Studi di Milano)



Sponsors:

- Istituto di Fisica General Applicata-Sezione di Storia della Fisica,
Universita degli Studi di Milano

- Observatorio Astronomico Nacional, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
(Santafe de Bogota).

- Dottorato in `Storia Internazionale - Elaborazione Multimediale',
Universita degli Studi di Milano


Applications to attend:

Doctoral and post-doctoral students, researchers and scholars working
in the history and/or the sociology of science, contemporary history,
or in fields related to science and politics in the twentieth-century
are encouraged to apply. Enrolment will be limited in order to
facilitate and stimulate depth discussion and interaction.


For further information, please contact:


Alexis De Greiff
Istituto di Fisica Generale Applicata
Sezione Storia della Fisica
20121 Milano - Via Brera, 28
Fax: ++39 02- 7200 1600
Tel: ++39 02-8057 309
Email: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
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