The Specialization Process Of HSS And Its Contribution To History Of Science

The History of Science Society (HSS) is a comprehensive specialized organization of History of Science with the longest history, the biggest scale and the most rapid developing speed in its realm. It is an all-round specialized organization. HSS has been established for 80 years. At the beginning, it had more than 300 members, and has increased to over 4,000 in recent years, and spread through more than 40 countries & regions in the world. Its influencing scope is becoming wider and wider. It has strengthened exchanges and co-operation exchanges between historians of science. It has provided science and technology information and the data documents for individuals and academes. It is the bridge that helps people communicates in science and the culture. HSS is a strict specialized academic association of History of Science, and its system is consummate. Its development and expansion is closely related to rigid organization and the sound system. It has accelerated the development of History of Science and the achievements ofHSS are indispensable to the prosperity of ISIS. The author adopts historical analysis and carries on the research on HSS. The thesis consists of the preface, three chapters and the conclusion.In chapter one, the author introduces the beginning of HSS, under the conditions that organization and the material conditions were gradually become mature, and it lacked the funds for publishing. After HSS was established, how had HSS reformed the organization and the systems? And we introduce the chairmen of HSS, Fulton and Holton, and the editors of ISIS, Sarton and Cohen.In chapter two, we will chronologically introduce the variety of relations between HSS and ISIS. HSS had experienced the establishment, cooperation, employment and finance etc. We try to find reasons of these crises, and comment the corresponding plans to cope with the crises;we will comment the management of many research programs and other publications. Through the above-mentioned introduction, we generalize the society from the subscription agent of ISIS, with the efforts of the successive chairman and other members, and after experiencing many crises, how HSS gradually become a complete organization. We will further explore how it is establishment, development and grandness promoted the development of the History of Science in the United States and in the whole world, and how it made the course of History of Science perfect. Furthermore, we will discuss how it attracted more and more people to attend it and how it enlarged itsinfluences.In chapter three, after HSS was established, HSS carried out the construction of science historiography section in the American universities and high schools, publishing many History of Science publications, works and data, and making the ISIS into the electronics resources, providing the convenience for the members at any time. In order to promote History of Science, HSS has established various awards, among which include Sarton Medal and Joseph H. Hazen Education Prize, etc. After analyzing the conversion of the functions of society, we find HSS has devoted to inspiring the thoughts of learning, training the professionals, constructing the professional organizations etc. In the conclusion, we summarize up the theme of this thesis, and point out the significance of this research and our expectations toward specialized societies.