Scholars study historical role of science in six major cities
Levin from Case's history department leads NSF study, meeting at Case October 21
October 18, 2005 | For more information: Susan Griffith 216-368-1004
Greek Carnival
Six historians will undertake a National Science Foundation-supported project to examine the influence of science and technology on the development of six major cities worldwide. Scholars from the project, under the direction of Miriam Levin, Case Western Reserve University associate professor of history, will meet at Case Friday, October 21-23, as the first of three workshops to consider phenomenon that influenced the development of Berlin, Chicago, London, Paris, Tokyo and Turin.
The public is invited to the program, "Inventing an International Culture of Change (1870-1930) in Six Urban Centers," from 1:30-5 p.m. Friday, October 21, in 206 Clark Hall, 11130 Bellflower Road to learn how these cities underwent what became known as "the second industrial revolution." This free event is co-sponsored by Case's Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities and the Office of Sponsored Research at Case.
Participating in the project along with Levin, who is doing an in-depth study of Paris, are Martina Hessler from the University of Aachen on Berlin; Robert Kargon, Johns Hopkins University, on Chicago; Sophie Forgan, University of Teeside, on London; Morris Low, Johns Hopkins University, on Tokyo; and Catherine Lavenier, The Sorbonne, on Turin. These scholars will look at urban planning, international expositions and museums and how these institutions contributed to the development of these cities and global cultural exchanges.
The NSF study, "Inventing an International Culture of Change, 1870-1930," is an 18-month project that focuses on how certain community leaders in business, industry and culture in these cities were active in an international exchange of ideas and were able to construct a new urban culture.
Not unlike current efforts to redevelop cities to be viable in a global environment, these leaders established innovative science and technology related institutions, programs and projects that changed the character of cities, as well as the way human beings experienced time and space, said Levin.
The six cities selected for this study have historically served as hubs of regional and international networks of communications, transportation, education and scientific and technological innovation, according to Levin.
She also noted that they all redefined their spaces and human and social relationships during this era through the efforts of a small, elite group of professionals and businessmen.
The researchers in the field of history of science and technology will examine how these cities built a modern urban technology environment, founded museums related to science and technology and how each city envisioned its future.
This event, which takes place during National Humanities Month in October, highlights the contributions of the liberal arts the understanding of our world. For information, call 216-368-2624.
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