Announcement and Call for Papers
Science in Europe - Europe in Science: 1500-2000
Maastricht, 4-6 November 2004
From 4-6 November 2004, an international conference "Science in Europe -
Europe in Science: 1500-2000" will be held in Maastricht (the Netherlands),
exploring new European perspectives on the history and historiography of
science. The conference is jointly organized by Gewina (Dutch Society for
the History of Science, Medicine, Mathematics and Technology) and the
European Society for the History of Science.
Why looking for a European perspective?
During the last decades, the growing political and economic integration of
European countries has led to a major shift in the way we think and feel
about our national identity and our position as European citizens. The
arrival of the euro, the deregulation of European markets and the
integration of East and West have created a general awareness of the uniting
factors at work on the European level, extending even beyond the boundaries
of the European Union. Europe is not just a geographical matter-of-fact
anymore; it reflects a psychological and political reality, characterized by
its own distinct cultural space and historical destiny.
This new dimension of Europe is bound to have a profound impact on our
perception of political entities, social differences and local traditions.
As national frontiers recede into the background, new structural
determinants come into focus. The ways of international communication and
commerce, the continuous migration of people, knowledge and goods, as well
as the cultural radiance of metropolitan centres towards peripheral regions
will become important elements in our understanding of what constitutes the
peculiar identity of this multilingual and multicultural continent.
This emerging European perspective will undoubtedly have important
implications for the historiography of science. Europe was the cradle of
modern science, originating in the dynamic world of the late Middle Ages,
soon to become a prominent feature of the European Renaissance and
Enlightenment. During the nineteenth and the twentieth century, Europe
maintained a leading role in science, medicine and technology, which became
deeply integrated in European culture. Although throughout its history
Europe was continuously influenced by civilizations from other continents,
it managed to impress a distinctive flavour on what has become our global
scientific heritage. In this perspective, research into the European roots
of modern science is all the more desirable.
Three areas of reflection
1. Science in Europe
The history of Europe is intertwined with the history of the sciences. The
exchange of ideas and technology contributed substantially to the history of
Europe. Scholars and students, as well as texts and instruments travelled
widely across national borders. Texts, however, were not only translated,
but also adapted, assimilated and supplemented. Ideas and research practices
were taken out of their original contexts, appropriated and adopted into new
practices and theories.
Science in Europe aims at discussing themes dealing with the mobility,
transmission, and the appropriation of knowledge, e.g.
* Scholars' and students' travels
* Book and print culture
* Translation practices
* Travelling instruments, research technology and laboratory materials
* National societies and their international contacts and ambitions
* International conferences
* Networks in Europe: Centre / periphery; interactions between
different metropolises; relations between cities and countryside
2. Europe in Science
Considering Europe not as a mere natural fact, but rather as a historical
construction, it may be asked how science has contributed to this process.
How was Europe defined and referred to, in for instance eighteenth-century
encyclopaedias or nineteenth century schoolbooks? How did the cultural space
of Europe contribute to or conflict with the notion of internationalism in
science? How did scientific explorers react to the otherness of overseas
civilizations, and how would they juxtapose these experiences with their
perception of Europe as the budding ground of science and civilization?
European research networks and standardization of measures and weights
confirmed the image of a growing European unity. Co-operation (and rivalry)
in science may have been a venue towards political co-operation, a
harmonisation of social and cultural values and a better mutual
understanding.
Europe in Science tackles the following issues:
* The scientific construction of Europe (geography, anthropology)
* The normalisation and standardisation of measures
* European research-networks and research institutions
* European scientific prizes
* Internationalism as an historical construct
*
* 3. The History of Science and the self consciousness of Europe
* As any historical narrative, the history of science builds a vision
of common heritage and continuous development. The birth of modern science
is often considered to be one of the most distinctive achievements of
European culture. What is the relationship between the identity of Europe
and science's historical development? What, if any, cultural impact does the
history of science have on the self-consciousness of Europe? How does the
history of science relate to other constituent historical narratives such as
the history of Christianity and humanism or the history of various roads to
democracy?
* The history of science can be seen as a contributor to the
homogenization of European culture. The proclaimed universalism of science
transcends the national context and brings national cultures closer to each
other. Still, national identity often reappears in so-called national
styles, which provide an opportunity for historians to disentangle the
closely knit picture of European culture. A (rhetorical) analysis of science
and the accounts of its historical development could broaden our views on
the role of science in the (dis)uniting of Europe.
* Topics may include:
* The comparative analysis of the meaning of 'Europe' for different
European countries
* Historical reflection on and contextual analysis of national and
international oriented histories of science and their relationship to a
broader European perspective
* The problematic issue of national styles
* Call for papers
Scholars wanting to present a 20 minute paper at this conference are invited
to submit a one-page proposal to the program committee before 1 May 2004.
The final programme will be announced in July 2004.
The language of the conference is English.
* Practical information
The conference opens on Thursday evening November 4, at 7.00 pm with a
public lecture, open to the general public, followed by a Get Together
Party. The conference finishes on Saturday around 5.30 pm.
On Saturday morning the General Assembly of the European Society for the
History of Science will hold its bi-annual meeting.
Updated information on the conference can be obtained on www.gewina.nl
<http://www.gewina.nl>.
* Conference fee and registration
The conference fee is EUR 120.00, and includes coffee/tea and catered
lunches on Friday and Saturday. On Friday night a conference dinner will be
organized. This dinner is not included in the conference fee and costs EUR
55.00.
Registration for the conference and the reservation of hotel accommodation
for the participants is handled by the Maastricht University Conference and
Events Office. Please refer to the Registration section on www.gewina.nl
<http://www.gewina.nl> for details.
* Program Committee
Prof. Dr. E. Houwaart, chair (Amsterdam), Prof. Dr. J. Browne (London),
Prof. Dr. C. Debru (Paris), Prof. Dr. R. Fox (Oxford), Prof. Dr. K. Gavroglu
(Athens), Prof. Dr. Phil. H. Kragh (Aarhus), Prof. Dr. A. Labisch
(Düsseldorf), Dr. G. Somsen (Maastricht), Dr. I. Stamhuis (Amsterdam), Dr.
B. van Tiggelen (Louvain-la-neuve), Prof. Dr. G. Vanpaemel
(Leuven/Nijmegen), and dr. J. Wachelder (Maastricht).
All e-mail correspondence should be addressed to [log in to unmask]
Further information can also be obtained from Dr. R. Knoeff, Faculty of
Culture and Arts, P.O. box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Fax +31
43 3884816. <<2004 4 november Science in Europe def.doc>>
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