Vol. 39, No.4, October 2010
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Member News
Quick Links....
Zhu Kezhen and His Contributions to the History of Science in China
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Notes from the Inside
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News and Inquiries
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Member News
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Cold War Transformed Science: A Report on the Francis Bacon Conference at Cal Tech
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Conversing in a Cyberspace Community: The Growth of
HPS Blogging
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Multiple Ways to Salvation: Tenure and Teaching-Intensive Appointments
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Jobs, Conferences, Grants
- Judy Leavitt was honored at a conference this 1–2 October 2010. Titled “One Woman’s Labor: Judith Leavitt’s Academic Contributions and Influence on the Profession,” the conference was held at the Pyle Center, University of Wisconsin Madison (see an overview under News and Reviews).
- Greg Macklem has been appointed as the new Coordinator of the History of Science Society. A member of the HSS since 2002, Greg brings many talents, as well as a passion for teaching, to the Executive Office (see more under News and Reviews).
In Memoriam
Margaret J. Osler (1942–2010)
Margaret J. Osler passed away on 15 Sept 2010, shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Maggie–as she was called by everyone but her mother–served as the HSS Secretary from 2001 until her death. She was a devoted officer and member throughout her many years of service, filling stints on the HSS Council, as well as on numerous committees, giving literally thousands of hours of service to the HSS. She brought both irreverence and high academic standards to officers’ meetings, insisting on close textual readings and encouraging everyone to sing old labor songs (a byproduct, she would tell us, of being raised by lefty, intellectual parents who were so enamored with socialism that their only daughter’s middle name, Jo, was a tribute to Joseph Stalin).
Born in New York in 1942, Maggie’s birth saw many complications and she almost lost her mother. Maggie’s story about this episode, of how her father–some would say miraculously–was able to save her mother, is a vivid depiction of the tension between faith and reason. Her family moved to Baltimore while she was still a child, and it was in Baltimore that, as a young student, she exhibited her highly-developed sense of right and wrong, even picketing businesses that refused to serve African-Americans–a risky proposition for a young woman during the civil rights era in Baltimore. She excelled as a student and attended Swarthmore College, a place that she loved. After graduating in 1963, she entered graduate school at Indiana University, in Bloomington, Indiana, where she worked with Sam Westfall. After graduating in 1968 with her PhD in the history and philosophy of science, she struggled to find her place, but after brief stints at Wake Forest University, Harvey Mudd College, Oregon State University and driving a cab, she settled happily at the University of Calgary in 1975, in Alberta, Canada, where she worked until her death. During her scholarly career, she became one of the world’s experts on the work of Pierre Gassendi and on the early modern period. Her latest book, Reconfiguring the World: Nature, God, and Human Understanding from the Middle Ages to Early Modern Europe was just published by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Maggie loved life, finding humor (and anti-Semitic plots) in almost every imaginable circumstance (as well as many that defied imagination). Her irrepressible sense of humor, her forthright nature, and her acute understanding of humanity allowed her to form friendships with a stunningly broad range of individuals, bringing together the most unlikely of suspects. She was a fierce defender of those whom she liked and these friends have suffered an irreparable loss.
An overview of her life and work can be found at arts.ucalgary.ca/news/dr-margaret-osler-fondly-remembered. A memorial service has been planned for 20 November 2010, in Calgary.
Maggie had no immediate family members. Her cousin, Joan Crespi, will be receiving condolence cards on behalf of the Osler family. Her address is: 424 Westend Avenue Apt. 9F, New York NY 10024 US. A scholarship fund in Maggie’s name is being set up at the University of Calgary.
Lawrence Badash (1934–2010)
Lawrence (Larry) Badash passed away on 23 August 2010 following a diagnosis of late stage pancreatic cancer. He received his BS in physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1956 and completed his PhD in History of Science at Yale in 1964. In 1966, he began his career at UCSB, where his work focused on the history of physics and specifically that of nuclear physics and weaponry. He retired in 2002 after 36 years of service. In addition to serving on several HSS committees, he was an enthusiastic mountaineer and a member of the Sierra Club. His daughter, Lisa Dale Jones, his son, Bruce Badash, and Nancy Hofbauer, his companion and soul-mate, survive him. A celebration of Larry’s life was scheduled to be held on October 3 at 1 pm (or 1300 hours, as he would say) at the UCSB Faculty Club.
For more information: www.history.ucsb.edu/news/news.php?news_id=113
David L. Hull (1935–2010)
David Hull, an influential philosopher of science, died on 11 August 2010. He was 75. Dr. Hull spent his career understanding how science, especially biology, works. Born in Burnside, Ill., the son of a John Deere tractor salesman, Hull graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1960 and earned his PhD at Indiana University in 1964, where he learned to look at scientific questions from both philosophical and historical perspectives. “David was not just interested in the philosophy side but in the whole history and development of science,” said Michael Ruse, of Florida State University. A memorial service is being planned for October.
For more information: www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2010/08/david-hull-philosophy-obituary.html
John E. Murdoch (1927–2010)
John Murdoch passed away on 16 September at the age of 83. An expert in ancient Greek and medieval Latin science and philosophy, he received his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin in 1957, with a minor field in the History of Science. Following teaching stints at both Harvard and Princeton Universities, he joined Harvard’s History of Science department in 1963, which he served twice as department chair (1966–1971, 1974–5). He won the History of Science Society’s George Sarton medal in 2009 in honor of his long and distinguished career. He is survived by his wife Monika Asztalos, who will be glad to receive letters at:
Döbelnsgatan 63, 113
52 Stockholm, Sweden
For more information:
www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/9/20/murdoch-schiefsky-history-science/
Please send notices of members who have passed away to infomanager@hssonline.org.