Life Sciences

Founded in 1936 by George Sarton as a companion to the journal Isis, this annual thematic publication deals with important emerging research in the history of science and its cultural influences. Selected volumes of Osiris cover such topics as Historical Writing on American Science, Science in Germany, Science after '40, Research Schools, Instruments, and Constructing Knowledge in the History of Science.

The Linda Hall Library is now presenting an exhibition of original printed materials related to the history of dinosaur discovery. On view are most of the classic papers of dinosaur lore, including the original publications of Gideon Mantell, Richard Owen, Othniel Marsh, and a host of others. The focus of the exhibition is on images, both of discovery and of restoration. The exhibition runs from October 17, 1996 through April 30, 1997. What follows is a hypertext catalog of the exhibition. It proceeds through all forty-nine items of the exhibition, but includes links to thirty-five more works that could not be accomodated in the exhibition hall. There are 136 original images.

Dr John M. Beeckmans is on a post-retirement appointment as professor at the Faculty of Engineering Science at the University of Western Ontario. A native of Belgium, he obtained his first degree in chemical engineering from University College, University of London, UK, and subsequently received post-graduate degrees in chemical engineering and physical chemistry from the University of Toronto. His research interests are in fluidization and pneumatic transport. In recent years he has become interested in non-conventional methods of instruction, especially in team-structured self-learning.

Since its inception in 1912, Isis has featured scholarly articles, research notes and commentary on the history of science, medicine, and technology, and their cultural influences. Review essays and book reviews on new publications in the field are also included. An official publication of the History of Science Society, this is the oldest (and most widely circulating) English-language journal in the field.

The Group of History and Theory of Science was created in 1991 at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. It is attached to the Department of Cosmic Rays and Chronology of the "Gleb Wataghin" Physics Institute of UNICAMP.

The popes had always had a library, but in the middle of the fifteenth century they began to collect books in a new way. Nicholas V decided to create a public library for "the court of Rome"--the whole world of clerics and laymen, cardinals and scholars who inhabited the papal palace and its environs. He and Sixtus IV provided the library with a suite of rooms. These were splendidly frescoed, lighted by large windows, and furnished with elaborate wooden benches to which most books were chained. And, unlike some modern patrons, the popes of the Renaissance cared about the books as well as about the buildings that housed them. They bought, borrowed, and even stole the beautiful handwritten books of the time. The papal library soon became as spectacular a work of art, in its own way, as the Sistine Chapel or Saint Peter's. It grew rapidly; by 1455 it had 1200 books, 400 of them Greek; by 1481, a handwritten catalogue by the librarian, Platina, showed 3500 entries--by far the largest collection of books in the Western world.

This is a work in progress. To help get a handle on the history of 19th and 20th century biology, I am making up biographical sketches of the scientists important to me. I welcome feedback, suggestions, and corrections. New names should be added regularly.