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The institutionalization of History and Philosophy of Science as a distinct field of scholarly endeavour began comparatively early - though not always under that name - in the Australasian region. An initial lecturing appointment was made at the University of Melbourne immediately after the Second World War, in 1946, and other appointments followed as the subject underwent an expansion during the 1950s and 1960s similar to that which took place in other parts of the world. Today there are major Departments at the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong, and smaller groups active in many other parts of Australia and in New Zealand. 'Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science' aims to provide a distinctive publication outlet for Australian and New Zealand scholars working in the general area of history, philosophy and social studies of science. Each volume comprises a group of essays on a connected theme, edited by an Australian or a New Zealander with special expertise in that particular area. Papers address general issues, however, rather than local ones; parochial topics are avoided. Further more, though in each volume a majority of the contributors is from Australia or New Zealand, contributions from elsewhere are by no means ruled out. Quite the reverse, in fact - they are actively encouraged wherever appropriate to the balance of the volume in question.
List of contents
Does Distance Tyrannize Science?.- Tyrannies of Distance in British Science.- Dr George Bennett and Sir Richard Owen: A Case Study of the Colonization of Early Australian Science.- A Far Frontier: British Geological Research in Australia during the Nineteenth Century.- A Collaborative Dimension of the European Empires: Australian and French Acclimatization Societies and Intercolonial Scientific Co-operation.- International Exchange in the Natural History Enterprise: Museums in Australia and the United States.- A World-wide Scientific Network and Patronage System: Australian and Other 'Colonial' Fellows of the Royal Society of London.- Ionospheric and Radio Physics in Australian Science since the Early Days.- Theories of the Earth as Seen from Below.- Geographic Isolation and the Origin of Species: The Migrations of Michael White.- Antipodal Fire: Bushfire Research in Australia and America.- Notes on Contributors.
Report
The reviewed volume is of very high quality. It has a superb index, a clear introduction and is jam-packed with references. The editors have obviously worked hard in assembling this volume and they deserve scholarly success.Explorations in Knowledge, Vol IX
