Records of the Science Studies Oral History Project

2 metres

This material is original.

In 1964 Professor Conrad Hal Waddington had made the original proposal for a Science Studies unit of this kind, but it was not until 1966 that it was actually founded, with the help of a generous grant from the Wolfson Foundation. The aim of the Unit was to develop a programme of teaching and research on social aspects of science. It is an interdisciplinary group, combining expertise in history, philosophy, and sociology, mostly though not exclusively within a sociology of scientific knowledge perspective. Originally, the Unit was set up as a separate department based in the Science Faculty, but is now located within the Department of Sociology in the Social Sciences Faculty. In 1987 it was designated by the University Grants Commission as one of four major UK Centres of Excellence in its field.

At present the team is comprised of four members of academic staff, supported by several research students. The main undergraduate teaching is provided for science, engineering and medical students, and serves to introduce them to the historical development of scientific knowledge and the characteristics of science as a social institution.

The records of the Science Studies Oral History Project consist of:

• 1 series of CD interviews with staff of the Institute of Animal Genetics, recorded on CD, 1969-1971
• 1 series of CD interviews with distinguished British scientists, recorded on CD, 1969-1971

• Philosophy
• Science, Study and Teaching
• Sociology
• Teaching

• Waddington | Conrad Hal | 1905-1975 | embryologist and professor of animal genetics, University of Edinburgh

• University of Edinburgh | 1583-: | university | Edinburgh (Scotland)
• University of Edinburgh | Science Studies Unit | 1966-: | university interdisciplinary research group | Edinburgh (Scotland)

• Edinburgh (Scotland)
• Scotland