Exhibition
Highlights 350 Years of Scientific Communication
A new
exhibit titled “The Royal Society and the Origins of
Scientific Communication” opened in Linderman Library on
January 22nd . The exhibit not only commemorates
the founding of the Royal Society at Cambridge University in
1660 but also highlights recent developments such that are
in the process of transforming scientific communications
once again.
In
November 1660, nearly 350 years ago, a group of esteemed
scientists met to establish what has remained the longest
continually operational scientific society in the world.
Counted
among the twelve founders who met at Cambridge University in
1660 were Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, Christopher Wren, Sir
Robert Moray, and William, Viscount Brouncker. The group
had been meeting for over a decade to discuss the natural
philosophy of Francis Bacon.
With formalization of the Society’s meetings came
responsibility. Members conducted experiments and built and
maintained library and museum collections. The Society soon
turned its eye towards publishing, securing permission by
Royal Charter to publish two books.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London,
the journal and primary mouthpiece of the society, was first
published in 1665. The format and content of the journal
has evolved over the years, but the Society remains
committed to publishing ground-breaking research in all
scientific disciplines. Today, the Royal Society has over
1,300 members, a large web site (http://royalsociety.org)
and reaches out to its readership via twitter as well as
with more traditional formats.
Highlights
from the Philosophical Transactions and a history of
the Royal Society can be found on the first floor, including
seminal articles by Benjamin Franklin, Isaac Newton, Niels
Bohr, and Stephen Hawking, among many others.
Lehigh
holds all volumes of the original Philosophical Transactions
in its Special Collections, having acquired the journal in
May 1878 upon the opening of Linderman Library. Today, both
the Philosophical Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal
Society are available to the Lehigh community as electronic
journals.
A look at
the changing face of scientific communication from the 17th
to 21st centuries will be on view in the lower level Gallery
outside the Cafe. This will include exhibits on the
exponential growth of journal literature, bibliometrics,
journal pricing, open access publications and legislation,
and the use of ranking and impact assessment tools,
including their use with respect to Royal Society
publications.
Visitors
will have a chance to explore Lehigh's role in research and
publication in the Bayer Galleria. The exhibition runs
through May 26, 2010.
Librarians
Lois Fischer Black, Ilhan Citak, Christy Roysdon, Sharon
Siegler, and Brian Simboli have contributed to the exhibit.
--Susan A. Cady
LTS Director for Administrative and Planning Services
Article posted February,
2010
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