L'histoire expérimentale des sciences

Experimental History of Science Workshop

Call for Proposals

25 April 2025, University College London




History of science works within well-worn (and of course often successful) genres of writing and presentation. But do these structural constraints encourage some insights, arguments and ideas and not others? If we experimented in form, would new insights, arguments and ideas come to the surface?

In recent years STS scholars have challenged ideas that “science” should equate to an exclusively European, capital-intensive form of natural inquiry, opening up history to diverse and often marginalized forms of natural knowledge from across the globe. Surprisingly, however, the formats and media through which history of science is written, presented, and published have barely changed in this time, despite many of them having roots in precisely the contexts under critique. What new ways of articulating and exploring the history of science can we develop that go beyond traditional formats? What role is there for gossip, ritual, storytelling, game-playing, silence, music, action, poetry and proverb, quilting, walking, performance, place-naming, or other forms of expression in the practice our discipline?

The Experimental History of Science Workshop (25 April 2025) is a space to take a risk, try something out, and get a response. The aim is to identify, try and explore new historiographical paths and possibilities. Some might meet their expected experimental aim. Others, perhaps even better, might work or fail in unexpected but interesting ways. We intend to shake things up. The workshop would most definitely applaud interesting flops. It may be fun.

We at UCL can provide the organisation, support, and the basics of time and space, as well as the enabling on the day.

Proposals are sought for ‘papers’, ‘events’, ‘interventions’, that have an explicit aim to experiment in how history of science is conducted or presented, ie experiments primarily in method or form.

The organisers will select a programme from among those that meet the following criteria and can be achieved with resources available. We do have a small amount of funding available to develop experiments, so talk to us if this support would make a difference.

Experiments in research question are moot if they might be answered through mere conventional methods or presented in conventional forms, but more radical proposals might be considered.

The method, form or question should depart from usual practice in interesting and bold ways.

The choice of the method, form or question should be justifiable and reasoned. Mere anarchy is boring.

The experimental aim should be articulable and clear.

Not all experiments might be realistically achievable, although a challenge is welcome. If we can, we will work with the selected experimenters to realise their experiment.

There should be a criterion for ‘success’, even if it is not met in practice.


To get you thinking, the following categories might prompt a response. What might be:


Impossible Plans – presentations that couldn’t possibly be realized in a workshop or perhaps not even in current reality. These can be presented in conventional ways but don’t have to involve conventional ambitions.

Real World Plans - presentations that can be done within the space of a theatre or lecture hall.

Sustainable Plans – presentations that make sustainability – however we define that – a key element in new ways to explore the history of science.


Or you may have an entirely different experiment in mind.


Please send an outline (one page) of your experiment to either catherine.lucas.19@ucl.ac.uk, s.werrett@ucl.ac.uk or jonathan.agar@ucl.ac.uk by 22 December 2024. The outline should include: a) experiment title, b) statement of aim of the experiment in method or form (or radical research question), c) a description and reasoned justification for the experimental design, d) a statement of in what ways the experimental departs from usual practice, and e) a clear criterion for ‘success’ of the experiment (bearing mind it is fine to fail in interesting ways).


A provisional programme will be communicated early in 2025.


The workshop, at which experiments will be either reported or performed, will take place at University College London on Friday 25 April 2025.



Organisers:
Jon Agar, Cathy Lucas, Simon Werrett
Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS), University College London