The History of Science Society

Vol. 38, No. 4, October 2009
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Centaurus, an International Journal of the History of Science and its Cultural Aspects: A New Face at a Respected Journal

When I tell my American colleagues that I will be the new editor of Centaurus, I run the risk of an uncomfortable silence. The reason is not, as I originally thought, because I am Dutch instead of Danish, but that my colleagues don’t know about the very existence of this “International Journal of the History of Science and its Cultural Aspects.” This is all the more striking, because in 2008 Centaurus celebrated the publication of its 50th volume. Although Isis is now publishing its 100th volume, most history of science journals are considerably younger than Centaurus, which celebrated its 50th volume with a special issue that reflected on the past by reprinting some classic articles and looked into the future through contemporary comments on these classics.

The editors of Centaurus have always demonstrated a good mix of acknowledging past developments along with present and future trends. Its founder, Jean Anker, reacted in 1950 to a “demand for facilities for publication” in the future, because of past developments of “increasing interest in the study of the history of science.” The journal was founded with the aim of being an “international journal of an independent character.” The hitherto exclusively Danish editors served the international professional community well by giving historians of science the opportunity to publish their scholarship in a first-class journal.

Over the years interest in the history of science increased and the discipline went through a process of institutionalization and professionalization. More journals were established. Many countries started national journals in their own language and founded national history of science societies. International and national journals and societies existed side by side. Although it took quite some time, ultimately political, economic, and social developments in Europe resulted in the establishment of a European Society for the History of Science (ESHS) in 2004. The editor and staff at Aarhus University, the home base of Centaurus, realized the moment had arrived for Centaurus to become the journal of that European society, although with the journal retaining its international and therefore transcontinental character. In 2007 Centaurus became the official journal of the European Society.

Although a non-Danish editor can be considered a natural step in the process of Centaurus’ transformation, I was nevertheless surprised when asked to become editor. Under the guidance of Hanne Andersen, the process started by Helge Kragh – to broaden the scope of the journal and to let it reflect the latest developments in the discipline – was coming to fruition. I saw no reason to move the journal from its home base in Aarhus, where it has been nurtured almost its whole lifetime.

I was surprised not only because I was not Danish, but also because I was mainly focused on the American and the international history of science communities. I regularly attend the HSS annual meetings and participate in sessions about statistics, genetics, and women and gender in science. I also serve in various capacities, among others on the Isis editorial board and the Margaret W. Rossiter History of Women in Science Prize Committee. On the international level I was for eight years the president of the Women’s Commission of the international organization of history of science (IUHPS/DHST) and have been a member of the Executive Council.

But for the past couple of years I have been a dedicated associate editor of Centaurus. I was convinced that a journal connected to the European society would have good prospects and regularly discussed that with Hanne, the editor. I therefore trust that my taking over the editorship will again turn out to be a good combination of past attainments and future trends. I have become an honorary member of the Aarhus Science Studies Department, where the assistant editor Claire Neesham is also located. Although I am not Danish, the basis of the journal will remain in Aarhus, where it is well taken care of.

In the near future my aim is to further cultivate the relationship with the European Society, but also to offer members of the international history of science community a journal in which to publish papers that treat broad issues of general interest. My ambition, like my predecessor’s, is that the journal also be used to inform ourselves about important trends in our discipline. These aims will be pursued by special submissions, one of which is a spotlight section that will bring together a number of shorter articles that focus on a common theme. This feature will offer contributors the opportunity to raise issues concerning current historiographical discussions. Another development is a section for scholarly interaction through a target article with invited commentaries and author response.

I look forward to receiving high-quality papers via our electronic submission system (see http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/cnt). I am open to suggestions about topics for future spotlights sections and target articles. You can always reach me by e-mail, stamhuis@few.vu.nl. I hope that Centaurus will receive its well-deserved place in the American history of science community. Take a look at http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=0008-8994.

– by Ida Stamhuis

History of Science Society

Centaurus, an International Journal of the History of Science and its Cultural Aspects: A New Face at a Respected Journal

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