Science history conference

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 10

Science history conference

i PA Wellington j New Zealand's first i national conference on the : history of science will be I held at Parliament this i month. More than 100 people have i registered to attend the con- ; ference in the Legislative ' Council Chamber from February 12 to 14. i The conference has been j sponsored by the Turnbull 1 Library and the Royal • Society of New Zealand to I encourage greater interest in I the subject. Mr J. E. Traue. chief librarian of the Turnbull Library, said that the study of the history of science in New Zealand was relatively under-developed, although New Zealanders had made significant contributions to science. Overseas the subject was an important field of study,

with many universities having appointed professors of the history of science, journals specialising in the subject. and national societies well established. The British Council has paid for the attendance of Dr Peter Whitehead, of the Natural History Museum in London, who has done considerable research on the fish of New Zealand. Other overseas contributors will be Dr T. G. Vallancc. professor of geology at the University of Sydney: Associate Professor David Branagan. also of the Sydney University geology department: Mr John Radford, from Melbourne, an expert on the history of chemistry in Australia and New Zealand: Professor Wallace Kirsop. of the University of Melbourne: and Professor Roy MacLeod, of Sydney University.