CfP: Panel on verticality in the history of science for ICHG2018, Warsaw
Up, down, round and round: verticality in the history of science
Work
on the historical geographies of scientific knowledge is frequently
presented in a register of horizontal movement: circulation, diffusion,
migration, expansion; often coupled with the ‘flat’ ontologies of
actor-network theory, or with the historiographies of European advance
across two-dimensional maps of imperial geography. In this session,
which we are planning to propose for the International Conference of Historical Geographers (Warsaw, 15-20 July 2018), we want to investigate what happens when we consider science in three dimensions.
Political
geographers have recently urged more attention to the vertical as a
dimension of power (Braun, 2000; Elden, 2013), while cultural
geographers have explored questions of dwelling and elemental encounter
in atmospheric and subterranean spaces (Adey, 2015; Jackson &
Fannin, 2011). Drawing on this work, we suggest that the spatial turn in
the history of science might be furthered through deeper engagement
with questions of verticality. What are the particular characteristics
of the sciences of height, depth and volume? How have scientists sought
to overcome the epistemic, technical and bodily challenges of working at
height or at depth? What would it mean to consider the field site as a
three-dimensional space (Kohler & Vetter, 2016)? How has scientific
knowledge contributed to the production of vertical territory – to the
bounding of space and the claiming of ownership, rights and dominion?
How have the reference frames of the vertical dimension been structured
and understood?
Papers in this session could address these and
related questions across field, laboratory and theoretical science, as
well as regards the scientization of cultural and physical practices
taking place in the vertical. We welcome papers addressing any time
period.
Please send inquiries and abstracts of around 200 words to Wilko Hardenberg (whardenberg@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de) and Martin Mahony (m.mahony@uea.ac.uk) no later than Monday 9 October.
PS. We are also reflecting about the opportunity to propose a further sessione at the meeting of the European Society for the History of Science (London,
15-17 September 2018), but no CfP has been issued yet. Thus if you
can't make it for Warsaw, but are still interested in the topic and
would like to give it a go for London, please let us know.
Contact Email: whardenberg@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de