[via bahps]
How did science come to be a profession – and how were careers in science structured before professionalization in its modern sense? What kind of interaction does the formation of institutional structures have with the process of professionalization? What has the role of the public image of science and scientists been in various historical contexts? How has the changing gender ratio contributed to the professionalization of scientists? What kind of a role have non-professionals played in development of science? Have heretics added their valuable contributions or rather disturbed the ”normal development” of the scientific world?
Nearly one hundred years ago, in 1919 Max Weber published his article Wissenschaft als Beruf, Science as a Vocation. Indeed, scientists and engineers play a visible role in our society, and yet the desired ways to educate, enrol and employ these experts are still as much in constant negotiation in Western societies as they were in Weber’s time. Time has come to make sense of the corresponding developments in the countries of the Baltic Rim and beyond. Therefore, the 26th Baltic Conference in History of Science will focus on the multiple questions concerning the past processes of professionalization and career-building of scientists and engineers. The questions above and many other related aspects in their historical contexts will be discussed in close cooperation with the philosophers who add to their conceptual understanding.
The Science as Profession conference will take place in August, 21st – 22nd, 2014 in Helsinki. We welcome papers which address any relevant questions asked above from the point of view of history of natural and social sciences, mathematics, arts and humanities, technology and medicine as well as philosophy of science and science studies. The choice of topics is neither limited to any geographical area, although special interest will of course be paid to developments in countries in the Baltic Sea area.
A selection of papers presented in this conference will be published in the Acta Baltica Historiae et Philosophiae Scientiarum.
Submitting an abstract
We welcome abstracts of 300-500 words.
The length of individual papers is 20 minutes.
The language of the abstracts as well as the papers is English.
To submit an abstract, please use our electronic form:
Deadline for proposals is March 31st, 2014
To contact the organizers, please use the following email address: bahps2014@gmail.com
Vetenskapshistoria 