The History of Science Society is moving to Philadelphia as part of a new partnership between Penn’s Department of History and Sociology of Science and the Science History Institute.
Previously hosted by Notre Dame University since 2010, the History of Science Society will now be hosted by Penn and the Science History Institute for at least the next five years, according to Penn Today. The Science History Institute will be the society’s headquarters, providing space for onsite meetings, exhibitions, and programming. At the same time, Penn will fund mentorship and work opportunities for students with the society’s executive office.
The History of Science Society calls itself “the world’s largest society dedicated to understanding science, technology, medicine, and their interactions with society in historical context.” Founded in 1924 and now boasting over 3,000 members, the History of Science Society has historically been hosted by a single university. The dual partnership between Penn and the Science History Institute will be the first of its kind.
“For Penn students — graduate and perhaps even undergraduate — in history and sociology of science, this is an incredible opportunity to learn what it means to work for an academic society and to get skills, experience, and credentials,” said M. Susan Lindee, the Janice and Julian Bers Professor of History and Sociology of Science and chair of the History and Sociology of Science department, to Penn Today.
The History of Science Society holds an annual meeting for scholars to attend and present their work. This year's conference has a theme of "Sustainability, Regeneration, and Resiliency" and will be held in Chicago from November 17 to 20.
Lindee championed the society’s relocation efforts, along with Projit Mukharji, an associate professor in the department, Michelle DiMeo, director of the Othmer Library at the Science History Institute, and David Cole, the Science History Institute’s president and CEO.
“This new partnership builds off of decades of collaboration between the Science History Institute and the University of Pennsylvania,” DiMeo told Penn Today. “Welcoming the HSS executive office [to Philadelphia] will enable more collaboration across our community, create mentorship opportunities for students and fellows, and provide a platform for reaching new audiences.”
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