Royal Society of Chemistry Creating Networks in Chemistry: The Founding and Early History of Chemical Societies in Europe: Volume 313 (Special Publications)

The book focuses on this process and development of the European chemical societies before World War I and up to 1930. Review Chemical societies in Europe Creating networks in chemistry: the founding and early history of chemical societies in Europe Anita Kildeb k Nielsen and Sona trb nov (Eds)RSC Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2008, 380pp., (HB) ISBN 978-0-85404-279-1 Reviewed by Bill Griffith Most European national chemical societies were founded in the nineteenth century (the UK's Chemical Society, now the RSC, is one of the oldest, founded in 1841). In this book, 14 of the 15 chapters cover the societies of Austria, Belgium, the Czech lands, Denmark, France, Germany, the UK, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, and Sweden. In one of the most penetrating essays, Ernst Homburg writes that chemical societies were founded in three waves: local ( ca 1750-1820), national (1840-1870) and 'national profession-oriented' chemical societies (after ca 1875). This book deals principally with the latter phase, stopping short at 1914 - a date, the editors believe, which marks ther From the Inside Flap During the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, chemical societies were established all over Europe. This book focuses on this process and further development of the European chemical societies before World War I, and in exceptional cases up to 1930. Presenting unique historical material this title offers an insight into the social, intellectual and political circumstances in which the chemical societies were constituted and function. Details of relationships and connections to universities and chemical industries and international contacts are uncovered. The analysis of data explores how networks in chemistry and professional autonomy were constituted, and investigates the process of demarcation that inevitably takes place when a social institution of a scientific discipline is formed. The reader will find answers to the important question of what chemistry was and was not in the latter half of nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth century. This volume represents for the first time an international comparative analysis on the beginnings of chemical societies in Europe. This fascinating study, based on detailed historical research done by a group of renowned historians of chemistry from several countries, will serve the European chemical societies and provide a context for their complex histories and relationships. Ideal for those interested in the history of national societies and chemical history. From the Back Cover During the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, chemical societies were established all over Europe. This book focuses on this process and further development of the European chemical societies before World War I, and in exceptional cases up to 1930. Presenting unique historical material this title offers an insight into the social, intellectual and political circumstances in which the chemical societies were constituted and function. Details of relationships and connections to universities and chemical industries and international contacts are uncovered. The analysis of data explores how networks in chemistry and professional autonomy were constituted, and investigates the process of demarcation that inevitably takes place when a social institution of a scientific discipline is formed. The reader will find answers to the important question of what chemistry was and was not in the latter half of nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth century. This volume represents for the first time an international comparative analysis on the beginnings of chemical societies in Europe. This fascinating study, based on detailed historical research done by a group of renowned historians of chemistry from several countries, will serve the European chemical societi