XLI Scientific Instrument Symposium, 19 – 23 September 2022
National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens

The Past, Present, and Future of Scientific Instrument Studies

We will take the 40th anniversary of the Scientific Instrument Symposia as an occasion to discuss how the study of scientific instruments has changed in the last four decades and where we stand today. Are we now studying different kinds of instruments? Has the very definition of what is a scientific instrument changed? Are we studying the same instruments in a different way and within different contexts? How have the questions we seek to answer and our methodologies changed? What about our disciplinary and regional boundaries?

While it comes natural for a historian to historicise their own past, we should think in the same way about the future of scientific instrument studies. What are our new objects and objectives? While we are comfortable as a community of scientific instrument enthusiasts, we want to remain open to new scholars, new methods and new approaches to instruments, and aim to extend our geographical reach.

The theme “The Past, Present, and Future of Scientific Instrument Studies” was chosen for the 41st Scientific Instrument Symposium long before the recent and sudden demise of Paolo Brenni, former President of the Scientific Instrument Commission, but we believe that this theme is a fitting tribute to honor Paolo’s achievements. His dedication, enthusiasm and generosity with his knowledge embodied the heart and soul of scientific instrument studies like nobody else! 

For the upcoming 41st SIC Symposium in Athens, we invite you to reflect on these and other issues related to the past, present and future of scientific instrument studies. As always, we welcome all proposals for sessions, papers or posters on any topic dealing with the history of scientific instruments.

Format
The symposium will take place as an in-person event by default if permitted and healthwise safe; the conference language is English.

Important dates
Deadline for the submission of abstracts: 28 February 2022
Presenters and session organizers will be informed by 31 March 2022 whether their proposal has been accepted. 
Early registration: May 31, late registration: July 31.

How to submit your abstract or session proposal
The abstract form is available at http://sic2022.hpdst.gr/abstract
Please submit abstract proposals (max 250 words), with a short biographical note highlighting main research interests (max. 50 words).
The session form is available at http://sic2022.hpdst.gr/session
Please submit session proposals (max 250 words) with organizer names and contact name.

Registration
In order to register, you must fill-in the registration form.

Conference information
Accommodation details and a preliminary program will be provided by the end of January.

Travel grants
We have a limited number of fixed amount travel grants available for postgraduate students and early career scholars (within 5 years of completion of studies). Please indicate within your registration submission if you would like to be considered for a grant.

Any questions?

In case of questions about the conference, please email to [email protected] or use the contact form.
We look forward to receiving your abstracts in due course.

Best wishes,

Efthymios Nicolaidis and George Vlahakis (Athens)

Louise Devoy, Pedro Raposo and Roland Wittje (the SIC Board)