Conference Announcement
Making Science Global: Reconsidering the Social and Intellectual
Implications of the International Polar and Geophysical Years
31 October-1 November 2007
Washington, DC
For further information, please go to:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/getinvolved/makingscienceglobal/
The Smithsonian Institution and National Science Foundation announce
"Making Science Global: Reconsidering the Social and Intellectual
Implications of the International Polar and Geophysical Years," a
conference being held on 31 October-1 November 2007 in Washington, DC.
The conference examines the impetus for and the impact upon science,
society, and culture of the International Polar Years (IPYs) of 1882-83
and 1932-33, and the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58, as well
as how historical perspectives might be useful for those involved in the
current IPY in 2007-2008. Speakers will explore the origins of these
efforts and their political dimensions and consequences. Themes include
the place of the poles in human imagination, discipline formation,
cultural nationalism, politics, and trans-nationality; emergence of the
modern geosciences; uses of new technologies to explore the poles;
changing assessments of the nature of human cultures in high latitudes;
and polar contributions to environmental awareness. The final session of
the conference, "Polar History: Perspectives on Globalization in the
Geosciences," will also serve as the plenary session of the annual
meeting of the History of Science Society.
Conference registration is free, but required. Registration, as well as
information about submitting an abstract for a poster presentation, is
available at: http://www.nasm.si.edu/getinvolved/makingscienceglobal/,
or by contacting conference organizers at: makingscienceglobal [at] si.edu.