History of science & technology @EPFL

@lhst-epfl.bsky.social

Laboratory for the history of science and technology École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 🇨🇭 https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lhst/

Look what just came through the post! The volume "Musées et sciences sociales" ed. A. Romano and C. Guichard in the fabulous "Enquête" collection is coming out 21 August (Éditions EHESS) ... and ✨I have a chapter in it✨ on nathist museums in the anthropocene! #envhum #envhist #histsci

picture of closed book  with orange and green cover (with stylised leaf design) - entitled "Musées et sciences sociales".
Next to it is the first page of article " Les musées d’histoire naturelle dans l’anthropocène : collecter et exposer la nature à l’heure de la crise environnementale" [Natural history museums in the Anthropocene : collecting and exhibiting nature in the age of environmental crisis]Picture of back cover : "En 2025, les cent plus grandes institutions muséales du monde ont cumulé plus de 200 millions de visiteurs, retrouvant presque leur niveau d'avant 2019.
Les musées font partie intégrale de la carte du tourisme global et participent à l'économie des territoires qui les accueillent. Pourtant tous musées confondus - de l'art, des sciences, des cultures du monde, d'histoire naturelle ou autre - la question de l'articulation entre collecte, exposition et conservation pose celle plus fondamentale de la définition, de la place et des fonctions d'une institution dont la croissance au xixe siècle a accompagné celle des états-nations et des empires.
Crise? Dans un ensemble de retours réflexifs sur ces espaces, proposé par des spécialistes de différentes disciplines et régions du monde, le dossier ouvre les musées aux sciences sociales, éclairant ainsi, par effet de retour, les potentialités d'un dialogue entre les deux mondes, sur des questions"

Beyond the 3D Model: When Heritage Becomes Data, Evidence, and Memory #infoclioevent

Beyond the 3D Model: When Heritage Becomes Data, Evidence, and Memory

Beyond the 3D Model: When Heritage Becomes Data, Evidence, and Memory 4 29. Juni 2026 We are pleased to invite you to our 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝗗 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 – part of Explore 3D, a joint open research data project by EPFL, the ETH Library, Université de Genève and University of Lausanne, and DaSCH - Swiss National Data and Service Center for the Humanities, Switzerland, funded by swissuniversities.   "Beyond the 3D Model: When Heritage Becomes Data, Evidence, and Memory" Speaker: Margarita Skamantzari Thursday, 9 July 2026, 16:00 CEST Online lecture (30–40 min + Q&A) Register here: https://lnkd.in/ecgzPMc4 What happens when cultural heritage is transformed into digital data, 3D models, archives, and immersive experiences? The lecture explores how 3D documentation can transform cultural heritage into a reusable resource for 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.   Margarita discusses how 3D heritage data can serve as evidence and memory, while raising practical and ethical questions around documentation, access and reuse within #FAIR and #OpenResearchData practices.   Drawing on field-based examples from heritage documentation, archaeological contexts, conflict-affected sites, risk assessment, and digital learning environments, the presentation reflects on the practical and ethical dimensions of creating, documenting, and sharing 3D heritage data within FAIR and open research data practices. About the speaker: Margarita Skamantzari is a Senior Researcher and PhD Candidate at the National Technical University of Athens, specialising in 3D cultural heritage documentation, digital heritage, and the use of documentation data for conservation and risk assessment, and serves as CIPA Expert Member and CIPA Emerging Professionals Co-chair. Organisiert von ETH Library Sprachen der Veranstaltung Englisch Anmeldung online https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnkd.in%2FecgzPMc4&urlhas…

dlvr.it

Le numéro 24 d'Artefact est en ligne ! Ce numéro de varia explore, dans une perspective résolument transversale, les manières dont les savoirs techniques se fabriquent, circulent et se transforment entre espaces, époques et milieux sociaux. #histtech #histSTM

24 | 2026 Varia

Revue de recherches sur la technique et la matérialité des pratiques dans les sociétés humaines — Journal dedicated to the techniques and the materiality of practices in human societies

journals.openedition.org

Ce mercredi à 19h30, Yohann Guffroy @yguffr.eurosky.social donnera une conférence au Musée d'histoire des sciences de Genève, sur "La collection d’instruments scientifiques de l’UNIL et de l'EPFL: une histoire de la physique lausannoise". Infos: www.geneve.com/fr/evenement... @mhngeneve.bsky.social

La collection d’instruments scientifiques de l’UNIL et de l'EPFL : une histoire de la physique lausannoise

geneve.com

Coming soon! This book looks at the history of intellectual and industrial property in the colony of Congo, present day Democratic Republic of the Congo. The volume includes chapters on patents, trademarks, geographical indications of origin, and copyrights.

Bild

⏰Reminder: the deadline for the Joel A. Tarr #Envirotech Article Prize is coming up fast, so be sure to get your submissions in before July 1, 2026! #envhist #histtech

Martin Meiske@mmeiske.bsky.social · 5mo ago

📢CfA: 2026 Joel A. Tarr #Envirotech Article Prize! The prize recognizes innovative publications that explore new ways of thinking about the interplay between technological systems and the natural environment. Early-career scholars especially encouraged! #histtech #envhist 🗓 Deadline: July 1, 2026

D

International Workshop: The 1967 Redefinition of the Second: Constructing Precision and Consensus in the Atomic Age #infoclioevent

International Workshop: The 1967 Redefinition of the Second: Constructing Precision and Consensus in the Atomic Age

International Workshop: The 1967 Redefinition of the Second: Constructing Precision and Consensus in the Atomic Age IM 09. Juni 2026 Date: 28-29 January 2027 Location: University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland Organized by: Gianenrico Bernasconi, Ion Mihailescu, Christoph Affolderbach, Julien Gressot, Romain Jeanneret, and Gaetano Mileti In 1967, after two decades of experimentation and diplomatic negotiations over technological choices, the frequency of the hyperfine transition of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom was adopted as the basis for redefining the second. This shift from an astronomical to an atomic time standard was both a scientific breakthrough and a political achievement. It required the construction of consensus among metrological institutions, astronomical observatories, national laboratories, and international organizations. It also reflected a new configuration of science, politics, and industry in the postwar era, characterized by increased state support for strategic fields such as quantum electronics and by a growing commitment to international standardization. Amid Cold War tensions, atomic timekeeping emerged at the intersection of national interests and global cooperation, reshaping the governance of precision measurement. This workshop explores the process leading to the 1967 redefinition of the second by bringing together scholars from the history of science and technology, STS, metrology, and related fields. It aims to foster a collaborative discussion on the epistemic, institutional, political, and technological dynamics that shaped this transformation in timekeeping. The workshop is organized as part of the SNSF-funded project Atomic Clocks at the Neuchâtel Observatory: Time, Quantum Technologies, and Innovation (1948-2001), which investigates the development of atomic timekeeping in Switzerland and its global implications. We welcome contributions that explore the scientific, institutional, political, and material dimensions of the 1967 redefinition of the second. Submissions may engage with the following themes or related topics: International Institutions and Global Contexts * The role of metrological bodies such as the Consultative Committee for the Definition of the Second (CCDS), the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM), the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), and the International Time Bureau (BIH) in establishing consensus. * The global history of the 1967 redefinition in the context of postwar international cooperation and Cold War politics. Precedents and Innovations in Measurement Standards * The relationship between the redefinition of the second and earlier standardization efforts, such as the redefinition of the meter in 1960, highlighting continuities and shifts in procedures, criteria, and institutional strategies. * Lessons drawn by historical actors from earlier metrological debates, and their impact on the consensus-making process. Criteria for Choosing a Standard in the 1960s * The technical and political factors influencing the selection of an element or system for time standardization, including cesium, thallium, rubidium, hydrogen, and ammonia, as well as the evaluation of different atomic timekeeping methods, such as masers, atomic beams, and gas cells. * The balance of key criteria shaping the final choice of standard, including stability, accuracy, reproducibility, portability, and dissemination. Laboratories, Observatories, and National Contexts * The contributions of key laboratories, observatories, and national metrology institutes in testing, refining, and advocating for particular standards or technologies. * Collaboration between institutions, including the transfer of technologies and skills, and efforts to coordinate and compare atomic clocks and atomic time scales. Material Culture of Atomic Clocks * The experimental practices, technical gestures, and protocols adopted by scientists and engineers in the development of atomic clocks, and their role in reshaping metrological institutions within the postwar landscape of international standardization. * The design and manufacturing processes of atomic clocks, and the impact of this material culture on theoretical and experimental models. Science, State, and Industry * The role of collaborations between scientists, governments, and private industry in the development of atomic clocks. * The contribution of private companies such as Atomichron and Hewlett-Packard to the commercialization and diffusion of atomic clocks, and their impact on the adoption of the cesium-133 standard. * The influence of military needs, navigation, and telecommunications in creating opportunities and shaping incentives that affected the redefinition of the second. Impact and Legacy * The immediate and long-term consequences of the 1967 redefinition for fields such as physics, astronomy, telecommunications, and navigation. * The impact of the adoption of cesium on the development of other frequency standards, its legacy in contemporary metrology, and its role in ongoing debates about future time standards. Narratives and Imaginaries of the Atomic Age * The incorporation of atomic clocks into the broader “peaceful atom” narrative promoted during the early Cold War. * The influence of atomic clock development and promotion on public and institutional perceptions of atomic technologies, as well as their symbolic power in shaping contemporary understandings of precision and control. Submission details Abstracts in English or French of no more than 500 words should be sent to ion-gabriel.mihailescu@unine.ch by 1 September 2026. Submissions from early career researchers, including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, are warmly welcome. Accommodation and meals will be covered for participants. Travel grants will also be available, within the limits of the workshop budget. Papers presented at the workshop will be considered for publication in an edited volume. Selected participants will be asked to submit their contributions for publication by September 2027. Please address any further inquiries to ion-gabriel.mihailescu@unine.ch. Organisiert von Institut d'histoire & Laboratoire Temps-Fréquence, University of Neuchâtel Sprachen der Veranstaltung Englisch Website der Veranstaltung https://www.unine.ch/physique/en/snf-project-atomic-clocks-at-the-neuchatel-obs… Anhang CFP - The 1967 Redefinition of the Second Workshop.pdf University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Neuchâtel ion-gabriel.mihailescu@unine.ch

dlvr.it

"Une mise au point magistrale qui permet de saisir la place et le rôle des techniques à une échelle globale, en jouant des échelles et des approches." Pour nous, Catherine Radtka a lu 'Histoire globale des techniques', aux éditions du CNRS @cnrseditions.bsky.social ⤵️

La Vie des idées@laviedesidees.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Une vaste synthèse restitue la diversité et la complexité des activités techniques et le sens qu'elles prennent dans la société contemporaine.

ISHTIP goes to Sao Paulo! Registration for the 17th Annual Workshop is open, and everyone who is interested in history and theory of intellectual property is very welcome to join. Please find more details in the page below.

17th ISHTIP Annual Workshop hosted by Faculty of Law of Univ. of Sāo Paulo

Greetings from the local committee: It is a great pleasure to welcome you to ISHTIP 2026, hosted in the buzzling city of São Paulo.

eventbrite.co.uk

Notre département d'histoire contemporaine à l’université de Fribourg recrute un professeur.e open rank à 80%. Nous sommes un département dynamique avec de nombreux projets de recherche et une belle collaboration entre la partie francophone et germanophone! www.infoclio.ch/fr/node/192084

Professur «open rank» für Zeitgeschichte (19. bis 21. Jh.)

Die Philosophische Fakultät der Universität Freiburg (Schweiz) schreibt zur Neubesetzung aus:Professur «open rank» für Zeitgeschichte (19. bis 21. Jh.) (80-75%)

infoclio.ch