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PHILADELPHIA, PA—19 June 2009—The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) has successfully hosted a symposium on the historiography of chemistry, welcoming almost 100 people over two days to its headquarters in Philadelphia. Composition to Commerce: Chemistry, History, and the Wider World brought together experts and guests from around the world, welcomed ten lecturers and a keynote speaker on the current state of the field of the historiography of chemistry, and facilitated lively discussions about the new directions the field is taking.
Five two-speaker sessions and a keynote address were held on 12 and 13 June at CHF. Topics ranged from laboratories in 18th-century Germany to the role of visual imagination in chemistry to continuities and discontinuities between alchemy and chemistry. Michael Gordin, associate professor of history and acting director of the program in Russian and Eurasian Studies at Princeton University said, “I had a wonderful time! The conference was interesting just at the presentation level, and the high caliber of the discussion made for a very enjoyable Saturday.”
About the Chemical Heritage Foundation
The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) fosters an understanding of chemistry’s impact on society. An independent nonprofit organization, we strive to
- Inspire a passion for chemistry;
- Highlight chemistry’s role in meeting current social challenges; and
- Preserve the story of chemistry across centuries.
CHF maintains major collections of instruments, fine art, photographs, papers, and books. We host conferences and lectures, support research, offer fellowships, and produce educational materials. Our museum and public programs explore subjects ranging from alchemy to nanotechnology. |
