MPI History of Science; Elaine Leong, Christine von Oertzen, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Web)

Workshop, January 6-8, 2016
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, Germany
Proposals not later than: 15.05.2015

In recent years, the practices, tools and material objects of knowledge production have taken centre stage in histories of science. Studies have focused on uncovering the processes of observing nature, constructing scientific instruments and models, and collating, managing and appropriating information; this has led to a deeper understanding of how intimately learned and scientific activities were embedded in artisanal, cultural and social contexts. This workshop builds on this rich historiography to explore the ways in which such practices were impacted by notions of gender. We will do so by focusing on practices surrounding one of the most basic materials used for knowledge-making and knowledge-keeping: paper. To date, investigations of paper technologies and paper work have rarely addressed issues of gender, a fact all the more surprising considering the ample evidence that these practices were performed by women, often even more so than by men. Read more and source … (Web)