Category Archives: Teaching HPS

The place of science in history and history in science

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

As an historian of science working between two museum sites and with people researching or communicating both history and science, I often feel I’m a stuck-record, piggy-in-the-middle, harping on to the historians to pay attention to the science and the … Continue reading →

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More Science than Fiction

Posted on December 17, 2011 by

Science-fiction stories and movies are not only entertainment for a rainy day but also mirrors of the scientific abilities, ambitions, even anxieties of a society. A short overview about tales and movies shows this evolution. The decade of 1950 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Environmental History, Geology, Humour?, Science, Teaching HPS | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Nations, nationality, nationalism, history and historiography

Posted on May 28, 2011 by

Was Boscovich Croation or Italian? Copernicus Polish or German? Al-Haytham Persian or Iraqi ? Gemma Frisius Belgian or Dutch? For some critical thoughts on the illegitimacy of these questions and the incorrectness of the usual answers go read here

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The Two Cultures?

Posted on November 23, 2010 by

Slides from my history of science class. Update (11/28): Turns out this is the last set of slides from me this semester.

Posted in Teaching HPS | 6 Comments

Science & Religion

Posted on November 18, 2010 by

Slides from my history of science course.  

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The Big Bang

Posted on November 14, 2010 by

Slides from my History of Science class this coming Tuesday.

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Einstein

Posted on November 8, 2010 by

Last week we spent two classes on Einstein’s life and work. Overall, a fairly simplistic presentation but probably sufficient to get the students grounded in some of the ideas. Next lecture (on quantum mechanics) is by my teaching assistant and … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching HPS | 2 Comments

Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics

Posted on October 26, 2010 by

Slides from my History of Science course …

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The Age of the Earth

Posted on October 21, 2010 by

Slides from my History of Science course.

Posted in Teaching HPS | 2 Comments

HSS Annual Meeting (Nov 4 – 7)

Posted on October 18, 2010 by

The History of Science Society annual meeting is rapidly approaching and is to be held in Montreal on November 4th through 8th. As always, there are lots of interesting sessions, but as a member of the Committee on Education, I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences, History, Philosophy, Teaching HPS | 15 Comments