CfP: The history of meteorological knowledge transfer in colonial contexts - ESHS, London, 14-17 Sept, 2018

(Dis)Continuity between the East and the West: The history of meteorological knowledge transfer in colonial contexts

Papers are sought for a proposed symposium on the history of meteorological knowledge in colonial contexts at next year's European Society for the History of Science Conference, due to be held in London from 14-17 September 2018. 

While histories of meteorology have increasingly begun to consider global and non-Western perspectives, the distinction and/or continuities between Western and Eastern approaches to meteorology and the networks that have historically transferred knowledge across diverse geographies and cultures have to date been understudied. This panel aims to address this gap by exploring the dynamism of material, institutional and intellectual engagements between the 'local' and 'metropolitan' constructions (and uses) of atmospheric knowledges and various forms of meteorological cultures that have defined the colonial scientific space through the processes of domination, appropriation, resistances and hybridity.

Relevant topics include (but are not limited to):

- Colonial interpretation/appropriation of regional/local meteorological knowledge.

- Port cities and their role in knowledge exchange between different traditions.

- Observatories including architectural and organizational aspects

- Networks of exchange and the circulation of knowledge

- Tensions: between colonial and indigenous knowledge; between the metropole and rural etc.

- Historiographic revisions, going beyond the 'diffusionist' model

If you are interested in participating in the panel, please send a working title and short (100-200 word) outline of your proposed paper to Dr Fiona Williamson (ariwfc@nus.edu.sg)  by no later than Monday 4 December, 2017. Please note that given the short turnaround date for this submission, at this stage we only require a working title and rough outline, and those selected will be asked to submit a complete abstract at a later date.

For further information about the conference please see http://eshs2018.uk/

The International Commission for the History of Meteorology will be able to offer some financial support for attendance to successful candidates, although the exact nature and scope of this support is still to be determined.