History of Astronomy : Meetings


History of Astronomy Conference Calendar 1996


Most of the following conferences and meetings of interest for historians of astronomy have first been listed in Electronic Newsletters for the History of Astronomy.

Salamanca, Spain
In Salamanca the semi-annual meeting on "Astronomy in Cultur" takes place, the fifth in April this year.
Information and abstracts of the papers being presented can be obtained by writing to:
Prof. Dr. Carlos Jaschek, Teso de la Feria 39, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain

Strasbourg, France
In Strasbourg semi-annual colloqiums on "Astronomy & Sciences Humaines" take place. The papers presented are published in the series "Publication de l'Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg, Serie Astronomie & Sciences Humaines".
Information: Dr. G. Jasniewicz, Observatoire, 11, rue de l'Universite, F-67000 Strasbourg, France

14 - 15 January, San Antonio, TX, USA
187th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society
Historical Astronomy Division sessions:
Sunday, January 14, 1:00-5:00pm
Monday, January 15, 10:45am-12:15pm, 2:45-4:15pm
HAD will hold three sessions. On Sunday afternoon, "Applied History of Astronomy" will explore the uses of historical documentation and analysis for solving current problems in astronomy and astrophysics. This session will include both invited and contributed papers.
On Monday, two sessions will be devoted to contributed papers. Papers on ancient astronomies and on recent or current astronomies of non-Western cultures will be put in the morning session, "Astronomies and Cultures." In the afternoon, "The Western Tradition" will cover the line of astronomy from the Middle Ages to the present day; from Sacrobosco to the Space Telescope, one might say.
For more information, contact Woody Sullivan at woody@astro.washington.edu
URLs: http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v27n4/aas187/SessionList.html
http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v27n4/aas187/tocSunday.html#Sess001
http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v27n4/aas187/tocMonday.html#Sess027
http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v27n4/aas187/tocMonday.html#Sess035

17 - 19 January, Riga, Latvia
18th Baltic Conference on History of Science
Principal subjects: 1. Peculiarities of the science functioning in a big and small country: experience of the Baltic countries; 2. Formation of the national universities and the academies of sciences in the Baltic states. Plenary sessions and meetings of 6 sections: general problems of science; universities; physical and technical sciences; natural sciences; engineering sciences; medicine.
Applications and abstracts not later than 1 May 1995 to: Prof. J.Stradins, Turgeneva iela 19, LV 1524 Riga, Latvia, Fax: 371-2-228784, 371-8821153, E-mail: lra@ac.lra.lv

22 January, Berlin, Germany
10th Dahlem Archival talk. Prof. Dr. Dieter B. Herrmann: 100 years of the Archenhold-Observatory
Place: Archiv zur Geschichte der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft [Archive for the History of the Max Planck Society], Boltzmannstrasse 14, 14195 Berlin-Dahlem, near metro station Thielplatz.
Because of the limited number of available seats it is requested that those wishing to attend please register by telephone ahead of time: (030) 841 33 701, Mon-Fri 8am-4pm.

11 - 24 February, Telchaquillo, Mexico
Astronomy camp by and for amateur astronomers in a Mayan village. Seminar on the cultur of the Mayans, geology und astronomy.
Information: Martina Gerhards, Koelnstr. 464, D-53117 Bonn, Germany
Price: 4939 DM.

12 February, Dortmund, Germany
6th Dortmund Symposium on the History of Surveying
(Including lectures by D.Hoffmann "From German Customs Union to the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt" and W.Torge ("From Gauss to Baeyer and Helmert - early ideas and initiatives on a European geodesy.")
Place: Rotunda in the Museum fuer Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte (Museum for Art and Cultural History), Hansastr. 3
Time: 10am - 3pm
Conference fee for non-members: 30.00 DM
Information: Foerderkreis Vermessungstechnisches Museum, Postfach 101233, D-44012 Dortmund, Germany, Tel. (0231) 5025686, Fax 5025428

6 - 9 March, Potsdam, Germany
Conference of the Urania society of Potsdam "Bruno H. Buergel - Life and Works"
Proceedings of the conference will be published. In order to register: Urania-Verein "Wilhelm Foerster", Brandenburger Str. 38, D-14467 Potsdam, Germany, Tel. (0331) 291741, Fax (0331) 293683

18 -23 March, Freiberg / Saxony, Germany
History of Geophysics and related disciplines
Enrollment: Dr. Wilfried Schroeder, Hechelstr. 8, D-28777 Bremen, Germany

1-4 April, Nice, France
8th IRIS Workshop
The 4th day was specially devoted to Uzbekistan, to the very rich history of astronomy in this part of the world, and to the present development of the scientific cooperation.
URL: http://boulega.unice.fr/iris/source/iris-iris8_reg.html

10 - 12 April, London, UK
"Archives of the Scientific Revolution"
Includes discussion of papers of Galileo, Boyle, Huygens, Leibniz and Newton.
Place: Royal Society
Contact: Prof. Michael Hunter, Dept of History, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HX, England

3 - 4 May, Dresden, Germany
Working meeting by the Fachgruppe Geschichte des Vermessungswesens im Verband Deutscher Vermessungsingenieure (Special Group on the History of Surveying within the Union of German Surveying Engineers): "The precision of historical instruments, old maps and first planned measurements."
Conference fee for non members: 120.00 DM
Sign up: Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Juergen Lagoda, Westfaelische Str. 30, D-47169 Duisburg, Germany, Tel. (0203) 598247

16 - 19 May, Oberschleissheim-Lustheim near Munich, Germany
25th Annual Conference of the Working Group for Sundials (Arbeitskreis Sonnenuhren)
Registery up until 31 January to: Guenther Berger, Nadistr. 18, D-80809 Muenchen, Germany, Tel. and Fax (089) 351 12 03

20 - 24 May, Baltimore, Maryland
1996 Spring Meeting of the American Geophysical Union
U01 Geophysical Research and the Smithsonian Institution: 1846-1996 (AGU History Committee). This is a special session on geophysics and the Smithsonian Institution on the occasion of the Smithsonian's 150th anniversary. Historical papers and reviews of current Smithsonian-related geophysical research are solicited. Examples of this research include 19th-century weather and climate networks, solar research under Secretaries Langley and Abbot, international distribution of meteorite collections, and historical or contemporary work at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Convener: James R. Fleming, Science and Technology Studies, Colby College, Waterville, ME 04901, tel: 207-872-3548, fax: 207-872-3074, e-mail: jrflemin@colby.edu
A01 Historical Perspectives on Climate Change (co-sponsored by the AGU History Committee). Historical papers on scientific and popular understanding of climatic change and the greenhouse effect are solicited to mark the centennial of Svante Arrhenius's work, "On the Influence of Carbonic Acid in the Air upon the Temperature of the Ground" (1896). Papers on all historical aspects of climate change and on all eras are encouraged. Conveners: James R. Fleming, Science and Technology Studies, Colby College, Waterville, ME 04901, tel: 207-872-3548, fax: 207-872-3074, e-mail: jrflemin@colby.edu; and William W. Kellogg, 445 College Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302, tel: 303-443-5086
URL: http://earth.agu.org/kosmos/sm96top.html

30 May - 1 June, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Science Brock Meetings
Including sessions on A Re-examination of Kepler's Astronomy and Cosmology and Kant.
URL: http://bosshog.arts.uwo.ca/phil/cshpsprg.html

5 - 6 June, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Netherlands
Second International Congress for Maritime History
(Mrs. Drs. C. Reinders Folmer, P.O. Box 102, 2350 AC Leiderdorp, The Netherlands, Tel: (31) 7189 5382)

8 - 9 June, Holidays Observatory Calina, Switzerland
Colloqium "The History of Astronomy"
Information and registry: Hans Bodmer, Schlottenbueelstr. 9b, CH-8625 Gossau/ZH, Switzerland, Tel. (++01) 9361830 (in the evening)

9 - 13 June, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
188th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society
Including a session on "Radio Astronomy, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"
URLs: http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v28n2/aas188/SessionList.html
http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v28n2/aas188/tocTuesday.html#Sess030

21 - 23 June, Isili, Italy
Convegno di studi "I nuraghi archeologia, astronomia, architettura"
Contacts: Compagnia dell'Arco, C.A.P. 08033 Via Dante, 50 Isili, Italy, tel. 0782/802973-802736-802443

23 June, Santa Clara, USA
History Sessions at the 108th Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Further information: Dr. Joseph S. Tenn, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609, USA, (707) 664-2594, Fax: (707) 664-2505, E-mail: joe.tenn@sonoma.edu
URL: http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/people/faculty/tenn/ASPHistory/1996.html

3 July, London, UK
Annual General Meeting of the Society of Antiquaries
Place: Burlington House, Piccadily, London W1
Lectures: "Behind the Stars" by Gerard Turner, "Arithmometers" by S. Johnston, "Weights & Measures" by A.D.C. Simpson

10 - 13 July, Liverpool, UK
"Science Matters: The Role and Achievements of Science in Greek Antiqity"
Place: University of Liverpool
Contact: Dr J.C. Tuplin, Dept of Classics and Ancient History, University of Liverpool, 12 Abercromby Square, Liverpool, England

15 - 17 July, Goettingen, Germany
VII Workshop on the History of Modern Mathematics
Information: Dr. Hans J. Becker, Niedersaechische Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek, Platz der Goettinger Sieben 1, D-37073 Goettingen, Germany

24 - 30 July, Braga, Portugal
"História e Educação Matemática"
ICME-8 Satellite Meeting, International Study Group on the Relations Between History and Pedagogy of Mathematics
Among the proposed themes: Navigational mathematics and the age of discoveries
Information: Eduardo Veloso, APM, Escola Superior de Educado de Lisboa, Rua Carolina Michaelis de Vasconcelos, 1500 Lisboa, PORTUGAL. Fax: 351 1 7166424, e-mail: veloso@telepac.pt.
URL: http://www.math.uminho.pt/hem/hem-braga96.html

1 - 4 August, London, UK
Annual meeting of the Society for the History of Technology
Place: Forum Hotel in Gloucester Road, near the Science Museum
Program Committee chair: Peter Morris, The Science Museum, London SW7 2DD, United Kingdom; FAX: 44 171 938 9736; e-mail: p.morris@ic.ac.uk

3 - 9 August, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Fifth 'Oxford' Conference on Archaeoastronomy
For further information contact the officers of the National Organizing Committee:
Rolf M. Sinclair, Chair, Division of Physics, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington VA 22230, USA, (phone) (703) 306-1809, (fax) (703) 306-0566, e-mail: rsinclai@nsf.gov
Raymond E. White, Secretary, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721 USA, (phone) (602) 621-6528, (fax) (602) 621-1532, e-mail: rwhite@as.arizona.edu
URL: http://www.phys.unm.edu/~zeilik/oxfordV/

7-10 August, Budapest, Ungarn
Symposium of the International Committee for the History of Technology
Contacts: Hans-Joachim Braun, Universitaet der Bundeswehr Hamburg, D-22039 Hamburg, Tel. (040) 6541-2794, Fax (040) 6541-2762, e-mail: HJ-BRAUN@unibw-hamburg.de
URL: http://www.history.rochester.edu/icohtec/96sympos.html

19 - 22 August, Prague, Czech Republic
International Symposium: Mysterium Cosmographicum 1596 - 1996
For more information see the extended announcement in ENHA 12

21 - 24 August, Bratislava, Slovakia
7th biennial conference on history and philosophy of physics in education (HPPE-7)
Contact: J. Sebesta, Comenius University, Dept. of Theoretical Physics, Mlynska dolina, 84215, Bratislava, Slovakia, Telefax: 42-7-725882, E-Mail: sebesta@fmph.uniba.sk.

2 - 5 September, Salamanca, Spain
Meeting of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC)
For further information, please contact the Local Organizing Committee: c/o Prof. Dr. Carlos Jaschek, 39, Teso de la feria, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain
URL: http://hp400b.hf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/%7Ecat/seac/tagung_englisch.html

9 - 11 September, Ottawa and Montreal, Canada
XV Symposium of the Scientific Instrument Commission of the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science
Place: National Museum of Science and Technology, Ottawa. It is anticipated that some sessions will also be held in Montreal.
For details contact:
Dr Randall Brooks, Curator, National Museum of Science and Technology, PO Box 9724, Term. T, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5AR, Canada, Tel: 613 990 2804, fax: 613 990 3636

15 - 20 September, Jena, Germany
Annual Conference of the German Mathematical Society [Jahrestagung der Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung]; Session 7 "History and Philosophy of Mathematics" [Sektion 7 "Geschichte und Philosophie der Mathematik"]
Information: Prof. Dr. Hans-Juergen Engelbert, Fakultaet fuer Mathematik und Informatik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena, D-07740 Jena, Germany, Tel. 03641/630819 or 631107

20 - 21 September, Tübingen, Germany
Meeting of the Working Group for the History of Astronomy during the International Conference of the Astronomische Gesellschaft
URL: http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/hist_astr/ha-tuebingen.html

20 - 21 September, Kremsmuenster, Austria
Annual Conference of the Working Group for Sundials in the Austrian Astronomical Society (Arbeitsgruppe Sonnenuhren im Oesterreichischen Astronomischen Verein)
Information: Dipl.Ing. Karl Schwarzinger, Am Tigls 76A, A-6073 Sistrans, Austria, Tel. and Fax: 0512 / 37 88 68

21 - 28 September, Great Britain
National Astronomy Week 1996
Theme: The 150th anniversary of the discovery of the planet Neptune
Information: Jodrell Bank Science Centre, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DL, Great Britain, Telephone Hot Line: 01477 571874, Fax: 01477 571875
URL: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~naw96/

23 - 25 September, Paris, France
Journees Systemes de Reference Spatio-Temporels. Deux siecles d'evolution du Systeme du Monde. Hommage a Laplace
Information: F. Medina, DANOF/URA 1125, Observatoire de Paris, 61 Avenue de l'observatoire, 75014 Paris, France, E-mail: danof@danof.obspm.fr
For more information see the extended announcement in ENHA 15.

23 - 27 September, Moscow, Russia
International scientific meeting on current problems in astrophysics in memory of three distinguished astrophysicists: 80th birthday of Professor I.S. Shklovskii and 75th birthday of Professors S.A. Kaplan and S.B. Pikelner
Contact: Prof. A.M. Cherepashchuk, Sternberg Astronomical Institute, 119899, Moscow, Russian Federation, Telefax: 7-095-9328841, E-Mail: cher@sai.msu.su.

27 - 28 September, Toronto, Canada
2nd Annual Conference of the North American Sundial Society
Please submit title and an abstract of not more than 250 words to Frederick W. Sawyer III, 8 Sachem Drive, Glastonbury CT 06033 USA (fax: 203-275-5295 email: 71541.1662@compuserve.com) no later than June 15, 1996.
For information on the conference, address inquiries to: 1996 NASS Conference, Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Victoria College, 73 Queen's Park Crescent, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1K7 Canada, or to the conference coordinator Phyllis Rose at 416-535-5723.
URL: http://glen-ellyn.iit.edu/~clocks/clocks/sundial/nass/ann2conf.html

27 - 29 September, Berlin, Germany
Deutscher Wissenschaftshistorikertag 1996 (German Day of Historians of Science) under the theme: "Turns of eras - The changing orientation in science and society: The Sciences around 1600 and 1900"
The planned discussion on astronomy around 1600 and 1900 has been cancelled because of lack of interest. However, papers on history of astronomy will be given in other sessions.
Information: Peter Burger, Institut fuer Geschichtswissenschaften, Humboldt-Universitaet, Unter den Linden 6-8, D-10099 Berlin, Germany, Tel. (030) 2093-3870, Fax 2093-2431
For a list of papers devoted to history of astronomy see ENHA 16, Item 4

27 September - 1 October, Bath, Great Britain
Antique Telescope Society's Annual Convention
Information: Dr. Walter Breyer, whbreyer@aol.com, Dr. Ron Maddison, ronmadd@digital.net, 325 Island Oaks Place, Merritt Island, Florida 32953, (407)-453-4723, or Bart Fried, bsfried@aol.com or 71223.3430@compuserve.com
URL: http://www.ras.org.uk/ras/meetings/1996/antique-con96.htm
For more information see the extended announcement in ENHA 15.

3 - 5 October, Bern, Switzerland
8th Colloqium on the History of Cartography
Information: Dr. W. Scharfe, Arno-Holz-Str. 12, D-12165 Berlin, Germany

10 - 13 October, Bielefeld, Germany
1996 annual meeting of the Society for Social Studies of Science
Session VI. Historical Dimensions of Social Studies of Science
Please ask for the registration form from: Guenter Kueppers, Local Organizing Chair, Institute for Science and Technology Studies, University of Bielefeld, PF 100 131, D-33501 Bielefeld, Fax: +49 521 106 5844, Phone: +49 521 106 4674, e-mail: gkueppers@argo.hrz.uni-bielefeld.de
URL: http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/iwt/easst.iwt

12 October, Berlin, Germany
100 years Archenhold Observatory
Celebrations beginning 8 pm
Archenhold-Sternwarte, Alt-Treptow 1, D-12435 Berlin, Germany, Tel. (030) 5348080, Fax (030) 5348083

18 - 19 October, Binghamton, NY, USA
Special Session "Humanizing the Medieval Sciences" at the 30th Annual CEMERS Conference: presentations on integrative and interdisciplinary research and teaching projects linking the medieval sciences and humanities (practical approaches to the teaching of natural philosophy, medicine, astronomy, astrology, quadrivial sciences, etc.)
Contacts: A. S. Weber, Box 217, Department English, SUNY Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA, E-mail: br00126@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu, Tel.: 607-773-4755 (H), 607-777-2168 (W), Fax: 607-777-2408
For more information see the extended announcement in ENHA 15.

26 October, Binghamton, NY, USA
"The World Soul and the Soul of the World: Philosophy, Cosmos, and Culture". Session at the 15th Annual Conference on Global and Multicultural Dimensions of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy and Social Thought, held at the State University of New York.
Papers will include historical topics in the relationships between philosophy, cosmos, and culture.
All sessions will be open to the public free of charge.
Contacts: David Fideler, Editor, Alexandria, PO Box 6114, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49516, USA, Phone/Fax: (616) 456-5740, E-mail: phanes@cris.com
URL: http://cosmopolis.com/files/world-soul.html
For more information see also the extended announcement in ENHA 14.

27 October, London, England
The 21st International Antique Scientific & Medical Instrument Fair
Radisson SAS Portman Hotel, Portman Square, London W1. 10:00 - 16:30.
Details: Peter Delehar +44 181 866 8659 Address: 146 Portobello Road, London W11 2DZ, UK

26 October, London (Greenwich), UK
Scientific Instrument Society's visit to the National Maritime Museum Reserve Collection in The Old Observatory, Greenwich, London SE10

26 - 31 October, Nice, France 121eme Congres National des Societes Historiques et Scientifiques The session on "Histoire des sciences et des techniques" is on the topic of "Astronomie et astronomes dans le comte de Nice et la France meridionale".
Registration had to be before March 31, but it seems to be flexible.
Contacts: Suzanne Debarbat (Paris Observatory) and Paul Brouzeng (LIREST, Bat307, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France)

4 December, London, UK
4th Annual Invitation Lecture of the Scientific Instrument Society: "Mechanical Celestial Globes of the 16th and Early 17th Centuries" by J.H. Leopold
Place: Royal Institution, 20 Albemarle Street, London, W1

14 - 15 December, Chicago, IL, USA
Symposium on Black Holes and Relativistic Stars (dedicated to the memory of S. Chandrasekhar)
Contact: John Wald, Enrico Fermi Inst., The Univ. of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637-1433, USA

For general history of science meetings and conferences see also: History of science: Meetings.

For general astronomical meetings and conferences see also: International Astronomy Conferences and Meetings.


Wolfgang R. Dick

Latest update: 4 June 1998