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Electronic newsletter for the history of astronomy 56
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* *
* ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER FOR THE HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY *
* *
* Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy *
* in the Astronomische Gesellschaft *
* *
* Number 56, January 23, 2004 *
* *
* Edited by: Wolfgang R. Dick and Hilmar W. Duerbeck *
* *
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Contents
--------
1. European Society for the History of Science
2. Abraham Pais Award for the History of Physics
3. Conference in Prague: Science in contact
4. Solar Eclipse Conference
5. Symposium in Budapest: The European Scientist
6. Job Announcement: Curatorial Post at Greenwich
7. Books in print
Acknowledgements
Imprint
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Item 1 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004
...........................................................................
European Society for the History of Science
-------------------------------------------
European societies or federations exist in a number of disciplines. Such
bodies reflect a growing awareness of the benefits that international
collaboration within Europe can bring. The benefits have been fully
recognized within the International Council of Scientific Unions, and for
some time now one of ICSU's priorities has been to further the coordination
of scholarly and scientific activity on the European scale.
Despite recent progress, some fields still lack a European organization.
The history of science is one of these. A recommendation in favour of the
establishment of a European society was advanced by the European Union in
1998, and now, five years on, that recommendation has been implemented.
Following some months of discussion, the European Society for the History
of Science was founded in October 2003 at a meeting in Paris attended by
representatives from nine countries. At the founding General Assembly, held
on 12 October 2003 in Sorbonne, in the premises of the Ecole Pratique des
Hautes Etudes, IVe section, the following officers were elected:
Robert Fox (Oxford) President
Eberhard Knobloch (Berlin) Vice-president and President-elect
Claude Debru (Paris) Vice-president
Erwin Neuenschwander (Zurich) Treasurer
Stephanie Dupouy (Paris) Secretary
The society is planning a number of initiatives aimed at promoting contacts
between scholars across Europe and advancing the interests of the history
of science in education. Its website is being developed as a means of
coordinating and publicizing activities on the European scale. Another core
initiative will be the holding of regular European congresses. The first of
these, organized in association with the Dutch national society Gewina and
the University of Maastricht, will take place in Maastricht from 4 to 6
November 2004. The Membership of the society will be open both to
individuals and to societies and other institutions with appropriate aims.
Arrangements for the collection of the annual subscription, currently fixed
at 20 euros for individual members, 100 euros for institutional members,
and a minimum of 200 euros for supporting members, will be announced in the
society's first newsletter, to be published shortly in electronic form.
For further information about the society, please contact the secretary,
Stephanie Dupouy, Departement de Philosophie, Ecole normale superieure,
45 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France (email: stephanie.dupouy@ens.fr).
[Source: Stephanie Dupouy to Rete mailing list, 13 Jan 2004]
...........................................................................
Item 2 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004
...........................................................................
Abraham Pais Award for the History of Physics
---------------------------------------------
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 70,
22. Januar 2004, Item 2.)
The American Physical Society and the American Institute of Physics have
established a major new award, the Abraham Pais Award for the History of
Physics, which will recognize outstanding scholarly achievements in the
history of physics. A renowned theoretical particle physicist and historian
of physics, Pais died in July 2000. Among historians, he is best known for
his book Subtle is the Lord: The Science and the Life of Albert Einstein,
which won the 1983 American Book Award in Science.
The award will be given annually and consists of $5000, a certificate
citing the recipient's contributions to the history of physics, and funds
to travel to an APS meeting to receive the award and deliver an invited
talk on the history of physics. The award is the first to be established
specifically for the history of physics.
The first selection committee will be chaired by Roger H. Stuewer
(University of Minnesota) and other members are Allan D. Franklin
(University of Colorado), Lillian Hoddeson (University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign), Anne J. Kox (University of Amsterdam), and Spencer R.
Weart (AIP). The first award will be conferred in 2005. Nominations are due
by May 1, 2004, and should be sent to Stuewer. For further information, see
the website of the APS Forum on History of Physics
http://www.aps.org/units/fhp/pais/index.html .
The Pais Award will usually be given to a single person but in any case to
no more than three individuals and is open to scholars of all
nationalities.
For the past two years, an award establishment committee has been working
on the concept and then the fundraising. The initial goal of $100,000 to
establish an endowment has been reached. A major contribution came from
John and Elizabeth Armstrong, who gave $30,000 outright and provided
another $30,000 in matching funds to challenge other donors. Fundraising to
cover travel expenses and to raise the amount of the award is continuing,
according to Benjamin Bederson (New York University), who chairs the award
establishment committee. Other members are Stephen G. Brush (University of
Maryland), Gloria B. Lubkin (AIP), Harry Lustig (APS treasurer emeritus),
Michael Riordan (Stanford University and University of California, Santa
Cruz), Stuewer, and Weart.
[Source: George Gale to HASTRO-L, the History of Astronomy Discussion
Group, 11 Dec 2003, forwarding a message from H-NET, the List on the
History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, 11 Dec 2003. Original message
by Spencer Weart, 10 Dec 2003.]
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Item 3 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004
...........................................................................
Conference in Prague: Science in contact
----------------------------------------
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 70,
22. Januar 2004, Item 3.)
Science in contact at the beginning of the scientific revolution
Prague, Czech Rep., June 23 - 27, 2004
First Announcement
The conference will be hosted by National Technical Museum in Prague.
The EU Commission has decided, in accordance with the EU programme for
cultural support - Cultura 2000 - to grant a three-year network support to
the institutions responsible for the care and maintenance of the legacy
left by the astronomers and scientists who founded our modern world view.
The scientists in question are Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Johannes
Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton.
The network, which is co-ordinated by Landskrona Cultural Department
(Sweden), shall be operative during 2002-2004, and will focus on
interpreting and enlivening how the knowledge of our modern worldview
evolved as a result of scientific co-operation within Europe.
The top of the scientific part of the project should be a conference
"Science in contact at the beginning of the scientific revolution".
Location and meeting schedule
Preliminary time schedule of the conference:
June 23, 2004, 5-8 pm: Arrival of participants, registration (at the NTM)
June 24, 2004 and June 25, 2004: Sessions
June 26, 2004: Sights of historical and astronomical interest in Prague
The current plan is to hold the scientific part of the conference from
Thursday, June 24 morning till Friday evening for the sessions; for
Saturday June 26 a trip/excursion is proposed.
Accommodation will be soon proposed to the participants on the NTM web
page. Alternatively, a wide choice of hotels around and inside Prague is
available.
Scientific programme and call for contribution
The themes for the conference shall be as following:
Ways of circulating scientific results of fundamental importance in Europe.
Creation of research centres (Hven, Kassel, Prague, Florence, Cambridge
etc). Travels of scientists and their ideas.
Acceptance, rejection or proof of ideas and speculations of the period up
to commencement of scientific research.
Instruments used in this and their development and influence on scientific
knowledge.
Precision of observation and discovery and formulation of natural laws.
Some of the leading figures of this stage: Copernicus, Galileo, Brahe,
Kepler, Newton and people around them.
Merits of free movement of scholars.
Science and technology - ideas circulating very rapidly internationally.
We plan on organizing sessions about above mentioned topic and panel
discussion. Additional poster presentations will be accepted, on all the
various topics concerning the matters.
A special proceedings book will be published by the NTM.
Working languages of the Conference will be English and German. The
correspondence can be performed in both English and German. All forms,
abstracts to presentations, texts to invited papers and extended theses
should be presented in English or/and German.
Deadlines:
Submission of Abstracts 1st February, 2004
Notification of Acceptance 1st March, 2004
Issue of Preliminary Programme on the Web site 1st April, 2004
Submission of Full Paper during the conference
Publication of Workshop Proceedings August 2004
Registration fee:
A registration fee of EUR 50 will be asked. Participants are expected
to finance their own travel and accommodation expenses.
Local Organizing Committee:
Jaroslav Folta, chairman (jaroslav.folta@ntm.cz)
Antonin Svejda, scientific programme supervisor (antonin.svejda@ntm.cz)
Jitka Zamrzlova, conference manager (jitka.zamrzlova@ntm.cz)
Jana Nekvasilova, conference manager (jana.nekvasilova@ntm.cz)
Please contact us if you wish to register and/or you are interested in our
forthcoming announcements. Our web site will have regular updates on the
Conference Programme.
[Source: First Announcement distributed by the LOC, fowarded to us by
Juergen Hamel]
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Item 4 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004
...........................................................................
Solar Eclipse Conference
------------------------
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 68,
10. Dezember 2003, Item 6.)
The next international Solar Eclipse Conference 2004 (SEC2004) will be held
on 2004 August 20-22 at Open University, Milton Keynes, England. The main
objective of the conference is to bring together professionals and amateurs
to discuss all aspects of solar eclipses. Two days of lectures will be
given in each of the following disciplines: predictions, mathematics, solar
physics, weather forecasting, eye safety, diameter measuring, edge and
central, and ancient eclipse research. Both past and future solar eclipses
will be discussed, as well as the 2004 transit of Venus.
The Open University has its headquarters at Walton Hall, in Milton Keynes
which is midway between London and Birmingham, and Oxford and
Cambridge.
It is necessary to make prior arrangements if you wish to attend SEC2004 or
to make a presentation, lecture, or poster display. Please contact Patrick
Poitevin (solareclipsewebpages@btopenworld.com).
The programme will include also several lectures on historic topics:
Leo Dubal (France): "Questioning Ancient Eclipse Records"
Pierre Guillermier (France): "Eclipse Paintings in the XVIth and XVIIth
centuries: The Pieter Paul Rubens' Christ on the Cross and the Antoine
Caron's Dionysius the Areopagite"
Peter Hingley (UK): "Picturing Eclipses, 1478 - 2000"
Eli Maor (USA): "Jeremiah Horrocks and the 1639 Transit of Venus"
Eckehard Schmidt (Germany): "Nuremberg - its history of solar eclipses"
F. Richard Stephenson (UK): "Historical eclipses: then and now"
Robert van Gent (The Netherlands): "Eclipse Cycles"
More information is available at the conference's web site:
http://solareclipsewebpages.users.btopenworld.com/SEC_files/SEC2004.html
[Source: conference's web site, see above]
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Item 5 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004
...........................................................................
Symposium in Budapest: The European Scientist
---------------------------------------------
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 70,
22. Januar 2004, Item 1.)
The European Scientist
Symposium on the era and work of Franz Xaver von Zach (1754-1832)
Budapest 15-17 September 2004
First Announcement
Purpose
This symposium celebrates the era and work of Franz Xaver von Zach on the
250th anniversary of his birth.
The meeting will bring together international experts in the history of
science to present papers on the following topics.
Topics covered
Biographical aspects
Scientific periodicals
Meetings of scientists
Enlightenment, freemasonry and religious orders
Interaction with politics
The role of "managers of science"
Gauss and the Hungarian science
The evolution of star catalogues
Minor planets and celestial mechanics
Astrogeodetic instruments
Local and global geodesy and navigation
Civil and military cartography
Geography and geophysics
Dates
Sept. 15 to Sept. 17, 2004. The symposium precedes the autumn meeting of
the Astronomische Gesellschaft, held in Prague at Sept. 20-25, 2004.
Venue
The meeting will take place in the main building of the Hungarian Academy
of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary.
Accomodation
In medium category hotels, next to the building of the Hungarian Academy of
Sciences, cost per night: 65 Euro in a single and 85 Euro in a double room
(including breakfast).
Participation
Participation is open for everybody who is interested in this subject.
Registration
Interested participants are invited to register with the enclosed
registration form. There is no registration fee. Accompanying persons are
welcome.
Proceedings
We intend to publish proceedings of the symposium.
Scientific Organizing Committee:
Peter Brosche (Daun/Bonn, chairman)
Jim Caplan (Marseille)
Anita McConnell (London)
Gudrun Wolfschmidt (Hamburg)
Local Organizing Committee (Budapest):
Bela Balazs
Lajos G. Balazs (chairman)
Laszlo Patkos
Magda Vargha
Endre Zsoldos
REGISTRATION FORM
The era and work of Franz Xaver von Zach
Budapest 15-17 September
Family name:
First name:
Postal address:
Fax:
E-mail address:
Number of accompanying persons:
I would like to present a paper
Title
Authors
Intended duration of talk:
Abstract:
Accommodation: please indicate your choice:
I prefer single occupancy
I wish to share a double room with:
Return to: Prof. L. G. Balazs, Konkoly Observatory, P. O. Box 67,
H-1525 Budapest, Hungary.
Fax: (36)(1)275-4668
e-mail: balazs@konkoly.hu
...........................................................................
Item 6 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004
...........................................................................
Job Announcement: Curatorial Post at Greenwich
----------------------------------------------
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 70,
22. Januar 2004, Item 5.)
CURATOR - HISTORY OF TIMEKEEPING
GBP 20,000 - GBP 30,000 + benefits * Greenwich
Recognised throughout the world for its innovative and entrepreneurial
approach, the National Maritime Museum aims to illustrate for everyone the
importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship
with people. The Royal Observatory at Greenwich forms part of NMM and is
the international home of time. We are looking for an exceptional
individual to champion the study of the history of timekeeping and actively
research our relevant collections within the broader disciplines of the
history of science and maritime history. These are exciting times to be
joining our team: we are about to embark on a GBP 15 million project: Time
& Space which will include a state-of-the-art astronomy centre and new
displays that explore mankind's quest to understand time and the universe.
This new post will be central to these developments, as you will
communicate the excitement and relevance of the history of timekeeping to a
diverse range of people, from schoolchildren to academics. Encompassing
research, education and web-based interpretation work, this expansive brief
will see you work with the Senior Curator of Horology and the Exhibitions
team to develop new galleries and displays, promote the collections to a
wide audience and publish work within the academic context that interprets
the significance of the collections.
We are looking for an exceptional candidate with a proven track record
within the history of science field who can place our scientific and
technological collections into a broader historical and maritime history
context. You will have a postgraduate qualification or experience in a
relevant subject area, an active research profile and published work. We
are not necessarily looking for an horologist, but you must have the
ability to develop the necessary practical-based skills to analyse this
material for research purposes. Above all, we are looking for a genuine
enthusiasm for the subject matter and collections, together with excellent
communication and team-working skills.
Apply now by sending your CV and covering letter, quoting reference R/CHT,
to: Human Resources, National Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich,
London SE10 9NF, or by email to recruitment@nmm.ac.uk
We regret that we are unable to reply to every applicant. If you do not
hear from us within three weeks, please assume you have not been
shortlisted.
Closing date for the receipt of applications: 2 February 2004.
The Museum upholds equal opportunities for all staff and has a no
smoking policy.
For a full job description please visit our website www.nmm.ac.uk .
[Source: Gloria Clifton to Rete Mailing List, 16 Jan 2004]
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Item 7 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004
...........................................................................
Books in print
--------------
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 58,
7. September 2001, Item 6. Originally from: "Mitteilungen zur
Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 18, Juli 2001, S. 6)
The compilation lists books in print written by members of the Working
Group for the History of Astronomy, published before 1992 and therefore not
yet listed in the WG's newsletters. Additions are welcome.
Bialas, Volker: Die Rudolphinischen Tafeln von Johannes Kepler.
Mathematische und astronomische Grundlagen. [The Rudolphine Tables of
Johannes Kepler. Mathematical and astronomical foundations. - In German].
Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1969. 137 p., 36 figs., 2 facs.,
ISBN 3-7696-2529-3, paperback 28.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge;
H. 2. - Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 139)
Bialas, Volker: Eine doppelte Iterationsrechnung von Johannes Kepler und
ihre Programmierung zu seiner Berechnung der scheinbaren Planetenbahn.
[A double iteration calculus by Johannes Kepler and its programming,
concerning his calculation of the apparent orbit of a planet. - In German].
Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1970. 30 p., 9 figs., ISBN
3-7696-2533-1, paperback 7.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge; H. 3. - Abh.
d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 143)
Bialas, Volker: Die Berechnung der Jupiterbahn nach Kepler. [The
calculation of Jupiter's orbit according to Kepler. - In German]. Muenchen:
Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1970. 200 p., 15 figs. and facs., ISBN
3-7696-2538-2, paperback 26.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge, Jovialia;
H. 4. - Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 148)
Bialas, Volker; Papadimitriu, Elli: Materialien zu den Ephemeriden von
Johannes Kepler. [Materials concerning the ephemerides of Johannes
Kepler. - In German]. Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1980. 218 p.,
ISBN 3-7696-2549-8, paperback 58.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge; H. 7.
- Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 159)
Bialas, Volker: Erdgestalt, Kosmologie und Weltanschauung. Die Geschichte
der Geodaesie als Teil der Kulturgeschichte der Menschheit. [The Earth's
shape, cosmology, and world outlook. The history of geodesy as part of the
cultural history of mankind. - In German]. Stuttgart: Verlag Konrad
Wittwer, 1982. VI, 365 p., 73 figs., 17 tables, ISBN 3-87919-133-6,
hardbound 46.94 DM (Vermessungswesen bei Konrad Wittwer; 9)
Bialas, Volker: Die Kepler-Edition. Gegenwaertiger Stand und editorische
Probleme. [The edition of Kepler's works. Actual status and editorial
problems. - In German] Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1985. 11 p.,
ISBN 3-7696-4713-0, paperback 6.00 DM (Sitzungsber. d. Bayer. Akad. d.
Wiss. Math.-Naturwiss.; 1985/2)
Bialas, Volker: Astronomie und Glaubensvorstellungen in der Megalithkultur.
Zur Kritik der Archaeoastronomie. [Astronomy and concepts of faith in
megalithic civilisation. On the critics of archaeoastronomy. - In German].
Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1988. 98 p., 27 figs.,
ISBN 3-7696-2556-0, paperback 50.00 DM (Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss.
Math.-Naturw. NF 166)
Hamel, Juergen: Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel. [In German]. Leipzig:
Teubner. 1984. 98 p., 15 figs., ISBN 3-322-00632-8, paperback 14.80 DM
(Biogr. hervorragender Naturwissenschaftler, Techniker und Mediziner; 67)
Hamel, Juergen: Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel. [In German]. Leipzig:
Teubner. 1988. 104 p., 18 figs., ISBN 3-322-00482-1, paperback 14.80 DM
(Biogr. hervorragender Naturwissenschaftler, Techniker und Mediziner; 89)
Herrmann, Dieter B.: Geschichte der modernen Astronomie. [History of
modern astronomy. - In German]. Koeln: Aulis-Verlag Deubner, 1988.
208 p., 22 x 19,5 cm, ISBN 3-7614-1002-6, hardbound 19.80 DM
Herrmann, Dieter B.: Kosmische Weiten. Kurze Geschichte der
Entfernungsmessung im Weltall. [Cosmic distances. A short history of
distance measurement in space. - In German]. 3rd revised and expanded
edition. Leipzig: Barth, 1989. 94 p., 38 figs., 14 tables, 24,5 x cm,
ISBN 3-335-00103-6, cloth 10.00 DM (Wiss. Schriften z. Astron.)
List, Martha; Bialas, Volker: Die Coss von Jost Buergi in der Redaktion
von Johannes Kepler. Ein Beitrag zur fruehen Algebra. [The Coss of
Jost Buergi, as edited by Johannes Kepler. A contribution to early
algebra. - In German]. Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1973. 128
p., 2 facs. on glossy paper, ISBN 3-7696-2544-7, paperback 30.00 DM
(Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge; H. 5. - Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss.
Math.-Naturw. NF; 154)
...........................................................................
Acknowledgements
----------------
For directly sending us information we thank Peter Brosche and Juergen
Hamel.
...........................................................................
Imprint
-------
Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy (ENHA)
Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy in the
Astronomische Gesellschaft
Editors: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick <wdick@astrohist.org> and Dr. Hilmar
W. Duerbeck <hduerbec@vub.ac.be>
All items without an author's name are editorial contributions.
Articles as well as information for the several sections are appreciated.
Subscription for ENHA is free. Readers and subscribers are asked for
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Archives: Previous issues of ENHA are to be found at
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Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte / Working Group for the History of
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URL: http://www.astrohist.org/
Chairman: Prof. Dr. Peter Brosche, Observatorium Hoher List der
Sternwarte der Universitaet Bonn, D-54550 Daun, Germany,
Tel.: +49(0)6592 2150, Fax: +49(0)6592 985140
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