Scientists and Social Commitment

Science Museum, London

Friday 15 - Sunday 17 September 2006

The British Society for the History of Science is organizing a conference to honour the 75th Anniversary of the 1931 Second International Congress for the History of Science, a foundation event in the modern history of science. The congress is remembered for the presence of a Russian delegation that raised political and philosophical issues in science and the history of science. It led to the elaboration of sociologically and politically conscious methods of research in the relationship between science and society.

As with the original congress, the venue is the Science Museum, London, and the meeting's full title is Scientists and Social Commitment: historical perspectives on the political, religious and philosophical ideas and activity of scientists. It will assess and analyse the theme of the history of scientists and social commitment.

Keynote speakers will be:

Professor Everett Mendelsohn (Harvard University), who will be discussing political activity among scientists with reference to the atomic scientists movement in the US.
Professor Pietro Corsi (University of Paris), who will be discussing the relations between science, philosophy and religion.

The symposia include: Celebrations of Science, Technopolitics and rebellion, Action and Ideology in Medicine, Scientific Conservation, Victorian Educationalism, Russian Mutations, Medical Reform and the Politics of Race, Boris Hessen and 1931, French Movements, Science Journalism, Literary Politics and Science, Dictatorship and Science, Internationalism and Identity, Philosophies of Nature in Literature, Institutionalizing the 'Social' History of Science.

There will be a reception at the Science Museum and a Conference Dinner at the Atrium of the Royal Society of Medicine on Saturday, 16th September at 7.30pm.

The Society subsidises the cost of registration and accommodation for student members who attend. They may also apply to the Butler-Eyles Fund for assistance with travel costs.

Programme

Download the provisional programme for this conference (pdf).

Register by post

You can book now by downloading the registration form (pdf) and posting it, with cheque or credit/debit card details, to the Executive Secretary at the address indicated on the form.

The deadline for registration is Thursday 31 August.

Register online via this site

If you have a Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Switch, Visa Debit or Delta debit/credit card, you can book online through our secure server facility (more about this facility). Simply choose from the options below, and proceed by clicking the button below.

What you are booking here is registration to attend the conference as a delegate. This includes admission, the conference pack, refreshments, lunches and a first-evening reception in and sponsored by the Science Museum. You will need to find your own accommodation. The conference dinner is optional.

The registration fee depends on your status:

Special requirements?

Please advise by email at the time of booking if you have any special requirements related to diet or disability and the organizers will do their best to meet these.

Booking conditions

Booking acknowledgements will be sent, along with further information for attendees, nearer the conference time; further details will also appear on this website. Please note that the Society is obliged to commit resources to the administration of the conference and we reserve the right to refund only a proportion of any payment made if you cancel your booking before the event. Whilst every effort will be made to achieve the advertised programme the Society reserves the right to change any aspect of the programme and other arrangements where good reason calls for this to be done.

Please direct any queries concerning registration for this event to the Executive Secretary at execsec@bshs.org.uk.