Despite the vast growth of the chemical sciences and industries over the past century and a half, and the profound transformations they have wrought in the world, their modern history is little understood. This grant supports a three-day conference of historians of the chemical sciences, together with historians and social scientists in related fields, chemical scientists, secondary school chemistry teachers, and others concerned with science education, to explore issues and challenges facing the historian of modern chemical sciences and technologies. This is the first conference to be devoted to this research area. The conference is taking place in May, 1990 and has three objectives: 1) presentation and interactive discussion of "cutting edge" research in cognitive, institutional, social and technological history; 2) discussion of documentation strategy for recent and contemporary chemical sciences; and 3) consideration of "public" communication with historians, chemical scientists, educators and science writers. A special feature of this grant is the provision for funds to bring ten secondary school chemistry teachers to the conference in order for them to participate in the discussions aimed at accomplishing these objectives. The conference papers, commentaries and discussion are being published. The volume should provide a benchmark for historians and chemical scientists, and for those working to promote the public understanding of science.
