AAAS Sections

History and Philosophy of Science (L)

Minutes of the 2006 Section L Business Meeting

Section L Business Meeting,
AAAS Annual Meeting,
February 17, 2006
Aubert Room

The meeting convened at 9.30 a.m.

1. The 2005 minutes were approved.
2. Announcements.

   1. Representatives from HSS, APA, and the Foundations of Knowledge introduced themselves.

   2. The results of the election were

      • James Fleming, Chair Elect
      • Douglas Allchin, Member-at Large of Section Committee
      • Sara Joan Miles, Council Delegate
      • Corinna Treitel and Virginia Trimble, Electorate Nominating Committee

   3. The 2005 fellows were William Bechtel, Ronald L. Numbers, and M. Norton Wise. William Bechtel was present.

   4. F. Jamil Ragep will deliver the 2006 Sarton Lecture.

   5. The financial rules for sections are changing. It now appears that sections will be able to carry over up to $1000 from year to year. Currently, the section receives $1250 a year. f . Announcements from officers’ meeting: Membership, after a decline starting in 1998, is up slightly. The Section can now send e-mails to its members via the Washington office. The national office is asking for suggestions about how to increase active outreach and increase membership. If approved by the Council, the retiring Section chair will become the non-voting head of the nominating committee to improve communications.

3. Discussion issues

   1. Amy Crumpton’s AAAS archives update was given in her absence. Sally Kohlstedt described the importance of the archives and their sad state before Crumpton arrived. Although understaffed, she has done a very good job organizing them. Kohlstedt raised the question of whether an endowment could be established to make it easier for scholars to travel to the archives and use them.

   2. Angela Creager will write a note of commendation to Crumpton with copies to Alan Leshner and incoming AAAS president John Holdren.

   3. John Gardenier asked the Section for comments on a proposed ASA resolution on evolution. He received many comments, including Jane Maienschein’s observation that the Dover judge stated that the resolutions by scientific association supporting evolution were very useful to him.

   4. Science. The Section thought we could and should be more proactive in suggesting books for the book review editor. Three suggestions were to invite the editor, Sherman Suter, to attend our meeting have the new Section head meet him create a process by which we can get suggestions for new important HPS books from book review editors of HSS, SHOT, PSA, and 4S to Suter. Because Science wants books literally hot off the presses, waiting for prize committees would take too long.

   5. The loss of the annual book issue was again mourned.

   6. The HPS community does not submit much to Science. The Section should encourage HSS to try to publish the Sarton lecture in Science or other high-profile publications.

   7. The discussion about possible 2007 sessions was lively as usual. At the Sunday meeting, the Section will propose sessions on

      • 300th anniversary of Euler
      • 300th anniversary of Linneaus and Buffon
      • Tipping points in global climate change
      • American Science, 50 years after Sputnik.
      • Space exploration and exploitation, 50 years after Sputnik
      • The precautionary principle and ethics for sustainability
      • Epidemics, pandemics, and disasters
      • IGY commemoration

      Other sessions may also emerge

      The Section will inform symposium organizers about the time line for proposals and the possibility of some funding.

      We should begin to think about 2009 and the 175th anniversary of the AAAS.

   8. Possible 2006 Fellows. Fellows were discussed. New fellows should be invited to attend the annual meeting.

   9. Improving the HPS presence with AAAS. Bruce Lowenstein suggested adding a historical component to the AAAS exhibit. At little cost or effort, the exhibit could add posters about major highlights from science and Science 50 or 100 years ago.

4. New business

   The Section decided to spend its annual allotment to get people to the meeting. To maximize funding, the Section voted to discontinue offering refreshments at its annual meeting. The Section voted to ask the officers to give priority to supporting speakers, then officers, and then newly elected fellows. This guidance is not meant to tie the hands of the officers.

   The question was raised about why there was not a HPS header in the program. The Secretary will enquire.

The meeting adjourned at 11.50 a.m.

• Bill Bechtel
• Pat Conover
• Jonathan Coopersmith
• Angela Creager
• Dail Doucette
• Peter Farmham
• John Gardenier
• Turhan Gardenier
• Sally Gregory Kohlstedt
• Bruce Lewenstein
• Jane Maienschein
• Arthur Mihram

  POB 1188

  Princeton, NJ

  08542

• Danielle Mihram
• Sara Joan Miles
• John S. Rigden
• Jason Robert
• Phillip Sloan
• Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis