Top history department moves to King's

King’s College London announces today that it will welcome the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine to the Department of History from August 2013. The move from Imperial College London follows work to identify the best academic home for the Centre to develop its research activities in the long term. The Centre will be strengthened not only by existing staff at King’s but also by two new appointments. A new MA programme is expected to start in 2013 with up to five full MA studentships as well as an enhanced PhD programme, supported by a continuing programme of Hans Rausing scholarships.

King’s joins MIT, Harvard, and Cambridge in having a world-leading centre for the study of the history of science, technology and medicine.

During its time at Imperial the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHoSTM) topped the RAE tables for history in 2008 and became widely recognised for the excellence of its research and its strong record in winning high profile grants. It is known for its distinctive approach to modern history of science, technology and medicine, integrating the study of science, technology and medicine and being particularly concerned to address big historical and policy questions, addressed to many audiences.

                                                                   

An endowment of over £2.5m, drawing on existing endowed funds, will be provided by the Arcadia Fund to King’s to fund MA and PhD studentships within the Centre.

CHoSTM will be joining one of the strongest history departments in the country, with a strong reputation for both teaching and research. The Department at King’s has in recent years been developing into a truly global department. Long renowned as a leading centre for, among other things, the history of the British Empire and of medieval Britain and Europe, it now has noted strengths in African, Chinese and Australian history. CHoSTM will also intersect with other important investments at King’s, such as the recent creation of the new Department of Social Science and Medicine and the development of the History and Policy unit.

The founding director of CHoSTM, Professor David Edgerton, Hans Rausing Professor at Imperial College, said: ‘I am delighted that King’s is committing to this notable investment in the history of science, technology and medicine, the most important in a generation. We are delighted to be joining the distinguished Department of History at King’s and look forward to further developing our already exceptionally strong connections with historians of other specialisms, to those concerned with policy.’

Head of the Department, Dr Adam Sutcliffe, said: ‘The arrival of CHoSTM at King’s, and its incorporation within our department, will enable us to embed the teaching of the history of science, technology and medicine into our curriculum at all levels, to an extent, and at an intellectual and pedagogical standard, that we believe is unmatched anywhere else in this country. These excellent scholars, and the new appointments we will be making in this field, will further broaden the range of our research and open up exciting new possibilities for collaboration and cross-fertilisation within our Department and with other units at King’s.

‘Building on our existing strength in the history of medicine in particular, CHoSTM at King’s will establish us at the fore of innovation and excellence in this wider field, and in the many interdisciplinary points of intersection with the history of science, technology and medicine.’

Imperial’s Pro-Rector (Research) Professor Donal Bradley said: “We are very proud of what CHoSTM has achieved during its time at Imperial College London. This move to join one of the strongest history departments in the country will ensure the Centre is even better placed to realise its outstanding potential fully in the future. Imperial is wholly committed to supporting this exciting development and we confidently anticipate many future successes.’

Professor Keith Hoggart, King’s Vice-Principal who has worked with Professor Bradley on the move, said: ‘Imperial has nurtured CHoSTM and encouraged its development into a world class research and teaching unit. King’s is delighted to provide a new context for a further expansion of academic excellence in the history of science, technology and medicine, seeking to enrich this field through interchange and collaborations with historians from across the College who bring original insight to fundamental questions.’