8:22 p.m.
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to invite proposals for the Tenth Norwegian History of Science Conference
(NHSC10), which is being organized by NVF - The Norwegian Association for the History of
Science<https://foreninger.uio.no/nvf/english/>, and hosted in Bergen, Norway, 5-7
November 2025.
The theme of the conference is "Science and Communication"
About the Conference
The Norwegian History of Science Conference brings together scholars working on the
history of science, medicine and technology on any theme, topic, or period to discuss
historical, epistemological, political, institutional, and ethical issues of relevance to
both Scandinavian and international audiences, welcoming researchers of all nationalities
at all stages of their careers. The tenth conference in the series coincides with the
200th anniversary of Bergen Museum, the origins of the University of Bergen, and the local
organizers extend a special invitation to those involved in history of science, medicine
and technology taking place at museums and collections.
The first Norwegian Conference on the History of Science was organized in Oslo in 2008
with the aim of establishing a national network for historians of science, medicine and
technology. Since then, the conference has been hosted biannually in Tromsø, Trondheim,
Oslo, and Bergen, and the conference has established itself as a forum for both national
and international exchange of ideas and collaboration. At the ninth conference held in
Trondheim in 2023, NVF - The Norwegian Association for the History of Science was
established to serve as host of the conference.
Theme
The overarching theme of this year's conference is "Science and
Communication", understood in a broad sense. Twenty years ago, James Secord argued
for studying science as communication, stressing the ways that ideas and practices were
moved from one place to another. Following his call, historians of science have offered
detailed studies of communication devices such as newspapers, public talks and
demonstrations, movies, radio, and the internet have shaped what and how we know things.
Others have studied ways to communicate, display, or store scientific knowledge and
objects, for example in museums and collections. In the museum sector there has been an
increased tendency to address ethical issues associated with the origins of their
collections. Several studies have also offered new insights into who has been deemed the
ideal science communicator, as well as how ideas about science audiences have changed.
Last, but not least, a growing number of studies have offered invaluable insights into
what knowledge has been deemed not suitable for communication, or what happens when
knowledge is produced against the wishes of the scientist.
While the main theme of the conference is "Science and Communication", papers
and panels on other topics related to the history of science, medicine and technology are
equally welcome, as the conference aims to reflect ongoing activities in the field and
continue to provide an important meeting point.
Keynote lectures will be given by Anne Eriksen from the University of Oslo and Staffan
Bergwik from Stockholm University. Eriksen will talk about "Bergen Museum 1825.
Knowledge for a Public Sphere", while Bergwik will talk about "Epochs,
Trajectories, Rhythms: Visions of Historical Time and Scientific Knowledge in the 20th
Century".
Guide for contributors
Proposals for individual papers, organized sessions, and alternative types of sessions
(such as round tables, workshops, exhibitions or shorter pitching sessions), are welcomed.
Ordinary presentations will be scheduled for 20 minutes. No speaker may present in more
than one session. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Programme Committee based on their
scientific merit and relevance.
Session proposals should include:
? a brief description of the panel's aims (150 words maximum)
? a session title
? an individual abstract for each paper in the session (250 words maximum)
? full contact details of the organizer and all speakers (including affiliation/postal
address and email addresses)
? details of any specific audiovisual equipment required (beyond PPT).
Individual paper proposal should include:
? a paper title
? an abstract (250 words maximum)
? full name and contact details (including affiliation/postal address and email address)
? details of any specific audiovisual equipment required (beyond PPT)
All proposals should be sent as a single electronic document to:
historyofscience10@gmail.com<mailto:historyofscience10@gmail.com>. Please note that
in-person attendance is expected. The conference language is English, although limited
parts of the program may be in Scandinavian languages.
The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2025. A conference website will be set up at
https://nhsc10.w.uib.no (in development). For any queries regarding the conference, please
contact magnus.vollset@uib.no<mailto:magnus.vollset@uib.no>
Best regards,
Annette Lykknes, Chair of The Norwegian Association for the History of Science
Magnus Vollset. Chair of the local organizing committee