Visiting professor: Stephen Weldon, Oklahoma University, USA

• Grant number: 17/08058-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: July 30, 2017
• End date: August 14, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - History of Science
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Alfonso-Goldfarb
• Grantee: Ana Maria Alfonso-Goldfarb
• Visiting researcher: Stephen P. Weldon
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Oklahoma (OU), United States
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação (PRPG). Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/14040-9 - Revealing natural processes through the laboratory (Phase II): the search for material principles in the three kingdoms until the specialization of science in the 1800s, AP.TEM

Abstract

Visiting professor: Dr. Stephen Weldon History of Science Department University of Oklahoma, USA. Since 2002 Prof. Stephen Weldon, from the History of Science Department, University of Oklahoma, is the editor of Isis Cumulative Bibliography (IsisCB), an annual catalog of the global production in history of science. He is also a member of the Governing Board of WHSO - World History of Science Online (http://www.dhst-whso.org/), a project developed by the Committee of Bibliography and Documentation (CBD) of International Union of History and Philosophy of Science/Division of History of Science and Technology (IUHPS/DHST). Also several members of our group participate in all three committees (IsisCB, WHSO and CBD) performing work that demands thorough and in-depth study of the documents for the history of science. More recently, Prof. Weldon was one of the creators of Digital History and Philosophy of Science Consortium, DHPS, which has its seat in USA and includes the collaboration of researchers and research centers from many countries (http://digitalhps.org) including CESIMA. The focus of this consortium is on the digital humanities, a field of studies of increasing interest due to the new possibilities it brings to the search and organization of research materials. In addition to the participation in the aforementioned committees and projects, we had many occasions along the past decade to collaborate with Prof. Weldon, including publications and scientific meetings. This partnership also involves the preparation of a symposium for the 25th International Congress of History of Science and Technology, which will take place on July this year in Rio de Janeiro. During his stay at CESIMA, Prof. Weldon will approach subject history of science in the digital age from several perspectives, from the nature of different databases of documents to how researchers without specialized training in IT may and should begin to organize historical data. More specifically, and intimately linked to some aspects of the research conducted within the scope of our Thematic Project, one of the topics Prof. Weldon will approach is the one of documents for the history of science and their classification. In addition, Prof. Weldon is an acknowledged specialist in the relationship between science and religion, which subject underpins many of the studies conducted within the scope of our Thematic Project and at CESIMA as a whole. In addition to a relevant number of work meetings to discuss aspects of our research, as described above, other activities Prof. Weldon will perform include: 1- Colloquium "History of Science, PUC-SP - 20 years", which will take place on July 31 - August 1, with the oral presentation entitled: "Shaping historical knowledge for a digital infrastructure: the IsisCB and the history of science"2- Research Seminars: seminars targeting the researchers that compose the core staff of our Thematic Project and devoted to in-depth discussions of topics intimately linked to the work performed within the context of our Thematic Project.*03/08 (Thursday), 10h30: "Curation of historical data"*14/08 (Monday), 11h00: "Authorities, the backbone of the digital world"3- Special Seminars: seminars targeting the university community with interest in the history of science, particularly the students at our Graduate Program.*09/08 (Wednesday), 14h00: "History of Science and the future of scholarship, with and without the semantic web"4- Noon Seminars: seminars targeting CESIMA researchers, graduate students and the university community as a whole. *08/08 (Tuesday), 12h30: "What is history of science in the digital age?"5- Lecture at University of São Paulo (IQ or FFLCH) organized by groups of researchers with which CESIMA has ongoing exchange.*[to be scheduled]: "Understanding religion and science in the United States of America in the 20th and 21st centuries" (AU)