The National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science (NCHPS) aims to foster history and philosophy of science/science and technology studies (HPS/STS) in Australia, to link the Academy to Australian HPS/STS researchers, and to serve as a link between Australian and overseas HPS/STS researchers. This is done primarily through the International Union for History and Philosophy of Science (IUHPS) and the Australasian Association for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science (AAHPSSS).
The committee includes active scholars in the field and represents various teaching programs and research centres in Australia, promoting a spirit of cooperation essential for maintaining communication within the HPS/STS community. It is an important point of contact for those engaged in recording, analysing, and publicising excellence in past and present Australian science, and making these results accessible. The NCHPS actively contributes to governmental and policy debates in Australia as well as to maintaining ongoing reviews of the state of the field, and efforts toward its continued growth.
The National Museum of Australia and the Australian Academy of Science through its National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science run the biennial Mike Smith Student Prize for the History of Australian Science or Australian Environmental History.
The winner of the 2019-20 Mike Smith Prize has been announced.
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