Department History

The Department of History and Sociology of Science dates from 1962, when the University created a new program of graduate studies, “designed to further the systematic investigation of the history, the customs and social institutions, and the methodologies of science and technology.”    First called “History and Philosophy of Science,” it combined faculty from the disciplines of history, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, English, and American civilization.   Loren Eiseley (1907-1977), long-time University of Pennsylvania Museum anthropologist, essayist, and poet, and Provost from 1959-1961, was one of the first faculty members in the new program.   In 1970, it became the Department of History and Sociology of Science, with its own core faculty in addition to associated faculty from many departments.    Alumni from four decades of the HSS doctoral program are found at research universities, research institutes, museums, and in the business world.

History and Sociology of Science continues the tradition of using the tools of the humanities and social sciences to study science, technology, and medicine. Its scholars examine and elucidate the relations between the technical practice of scientists, engineers, medical researchers, and clinicians, and the material, social, political and cultural context in which those practices occur.   In addition to its outstanding graduate program, the department offers two interdisciplinary undergraduate majors: Science, Technology and Society, which focuses on the relation of humanities, science and social science, and Health and Societies, which focuses on social and cultural context of health and medicine.

In 2010, the Department celebrated forty years with a reunion for its graduate alumni.  At the opening plenary session, Arnold Thackray, Rosemary Stevens and Robert Kohler reflected on the department's history (link through their names to video clips of these reflections).

Events (also see Image Galleries below)

May 2013  Cowan Symposium