The History of Science Society (HSS) is the primary professional society for the academic study of the history of science

History of science and technology

The history of science and technology is a field of history which examines how humanity's understanding of the natural world and ability to manipulate it have changed over the centuries...

.It was founded in 1924 by George Sarton

George Sarton

George Sarton was a Belgian chemist and historian who is considered the founder of the discipline of history of science. He left Belgium because of the First World War and settled in the United States where he spent the rest of his life researching and writing about the history of science...

 and Lawrence Joseph Henderson

Lawrence Joseph Henderson

Lawrence Joseph Henderson was a physiologist, chemist, biologist, philosopher, and sociologist. He became one of the leading biochemists of the first decades of the 20th century.Lawrence Henderson graduated from Harvard College in 1898 and from Harvard Medical School in 1902, receiving the M. D...

, primarily to support the publication of Isis

Isis (journal)

Isis is an academic journal published by University of Chicago Press. It focuses on the history of science, history of medicine, and the history of technology, as well as their cultural influences, featuring both original research articles as well as extensive book reviews and review essays.It was...

, a journal of the history of science Sarton had started in 1912. The society has over 3,000 members worldwide. It continues to publish the quarterly journal Isis as well as the yearly Osiris

Osiris (journal)

Osiris is an annual peer-reviewed academic journal covering research in the history of science. It is published by the University of Chicago Press and was established in 1936 by George Sarton....

, and holds an annual conference.

The current president of the HSS is Paul Farber, emeritus Oregon State University.

Awards and recognition

HSS sponsors two special lectures annually:

• The George Sarton Memorial Lecture, delivered at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
  American Association for the Advancement of Science
  The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
  
   since 1960 (with a break from 1973 to 1975)
• The History of Science Society Distinguished Lecture (formerly the History of Science Society Lecture), delivered at a plenary session of the annual meeting of the HSS since 1981

In addition, the HSS awards a number of prizes:

• The Suzanne J. Levinson Prize
  Suzanne J. Levinson Prize
  The Suzanne J. Levinson Prize is a prize of the History of Science Society, awarded biennially and established in 2006. The prize is given to the author of "a book in the history of the life sciences and natural history," published in the previous four years...
  
  , established in 2006, is awarded biennially for a book in the history of the life sciences and natural history
• The Nathan Reingold Prize
  Nathan Reingold Prize
  The Nathan Reingold Prize is given every year to a graduate student for having written an essay in the history of science....
  
  (formerly the Schuman Prize), established in 1955, for an outstanding essay in the history of science written by a graduate student
• The Derek Price/Rod Webster Prize (formerly the Zeitlin-Ver Brugge Prize), established in 1978, for an outstanding article in Isis
• The Margaret W. Rossiter History of Women in Science Prize
  Margaret W. Rossiter History of Women in Science Prize
  Margaret W. Rossiter History of Women in Science Prize is awarded for an outstanding book or article on the history of women in science, by the History of Science Society....
  
  , first awarded in 1987, for an outstanding work on the subject of women in science (the prize alternates annually between books and journals)
• The Joseph H. Hazen Education Prize, established in 1998, for outstanding contributions to teaching history of science
• The Watson Davis and Helen Miles Davis Prize, established in 1985, for a textbook or popular book on the history of science
• The Pfizer Award
  Pfizer Award
  The Pfizer Award is awarded annually by the History of Science Society "in recognition of an outstanding book dealing with the history of science"- Pfizer Awardees :...
  
  , established in 1958, for an outstanding book in the history of science (a medal accompanies this award)
• The George Sarton Medal
  George Sarton Medal
  The George Sarton Medal is the most prestigious award given by the History of Science Society. It has been awarded annually since 1955. It is awarded to an historian of science from the international community who became distinguished for "a lifetime of scholarly achievement" in the field...
  
  , first awarded in 1955, for lifetime achievement in the history of science

External links

• History of Science Society online