The Philadelphia Area Center for History of Science was formally established as a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation on August 8, 2007. The Center's Board of Directors finished the process by adopting the Center's bylaws and electing officers on September 27. We have now begun the process of applying for federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status.
The Board of Directors also approved a five-year strategic plan that commits the Center to promoting scholarly and public understanding of history of science, broadly construed, by making use of the exceptional resources of the Philadelphia area to support research, to foster a vibrant community of scholars, and to build bridges between the scholarly community and broader audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The Center's activities will focus on Research, Community, and Partnerships and Outreach:
- Research: A significant quantity of high-quality research publications in history of science, technology and medicine using the collections of member institutions.
- Establish visiting dissertation fellowships.
- Develop cross-institution online searching capability.
- Establish visiting postdoctoral and senior fellowships.
- Establish postdoctoral fellowship for producing topical research guides to area collections.
- Publish web-based, student-produced, topical mini-guides to area collections.
- Community: An interdisciplinary and international community of scholars that advances knowledge, mentors young scholars, and stimulates novel and creative research through collegial and rigorous discussion, debate and collaboration.
- Establish residential dissertation fellowships.
- Produce monthly calendar of area events.
- Establish academic conference program.
- Establish roving regional colloquium series.
- Maintain contact with former fellows and hold fellows' symposia every five years.
- Partnerships and Outreach: Partnerships between historians and scientific, technical, and medical professionals, as well as teachers at all levels, to provide historical perspective on the production, practice, teaching, learning and experience of science, technology and medicine.
- Establish public events series.
- Produce web exhibits.
- Partner across disciplines with teachers, scientists, engineers and medical professionals to produce web content and course materials.
- Partner with media to produce content for broader audiences.
- Establish senior research/teaching fellowships to offer courses through partners.