National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science

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.

Governance

• Terms of reference (PDF, 245 KB)

Reports and activities

• The Society for Social Studies of Science will hold its 2018 international conference in Sydney for the first time. The theme of the 2018 meeting is TRANSnational STS.

Mike Smith Student Prize for History of Australian Science or Australian Environmental History

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.

Related groups and organisations

• International Union of History and Philosophy of Science
  The IUHPST is the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. It is a member union of ICSU, the International Council for Science. It consists of two Divisions: the Division of History of Science and Technology (DHST) and the Division of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science and Technology (DLMPST). The National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science advises the Academy on matters relating to IUPHST. 
  • Report from Australian voting delegates to the IUHPS General Assemblie in Budapest, Hungary, 28 July–2 August 2009 (PDF, 22 KB)
• Australasian Association for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science
• World History of Science Online project
• Deakin Science and Society Network reaches across the disciplinary divides of our universities and institutions, and the divides between research, policy and practice. They emphasise the effective communication and translation of research, as the benefits of knowledge can’t be fully realised unless information is shared widely across different audiences. Together with the National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science, they have hosted Emerging Issues in Science and Society events which pair a scientist and a science and technology studies researcher together to discuss pressing issues in Australian society.

Members