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Employment Trends in History of Science Author(s): Kathryn M. Olesko Source: Isis, Vol. 72, No. 3 (Sep., 1981), pp. 477-479 Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/230263 . Accessed: 09/05/2014 01:23 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . The University of Chicago Press and The History of Science Society are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Isis. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 169.229.32.137 on Fri, 9 May 2014 01:23:28 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

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Page 1: Employment Trends in History of Science

Employment Trends in History of ScienceAuthor(s): Kathryn M. OleskoSource: Isis, Vol. 72, No. 3 (Sep., 1981), pp. 477-479Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/230263 .

Accessed: 09/05/2014 01:23

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

The University of Chicago Press and The History of Science Society are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize,preserve and extend access to Isis.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 169.229.32.137 on Fri, 9 May 2014 01:23:28 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 2: Employment Trends in History of Science

NEWS OF THE PROFESSION -ISIS, 72: 3: 263 (1981) 477

Uns6ld, A. (78, G, 2) van Altena, W. (77, Dd, 1.5) van Agt, S. (77, Dd, 1.2) van de Hulst, H. (78, Dd, 0.6) van de Kamp, P. (77-79, Dd,

5.7) Van den Bergh, S. (76, Ws, 1)

Vasilevskis, S. (77, Dd, 7) Vyssotsky, A. N. (C, 0. 1) Weaver, H. (77-78, Dd, 6) Weizsacker, C. (78, Hk, 0.7) Wesselink, A. (77-78, Dd,

5.2) Whipple, F. (77, Dd, 4.5)

Whitford, A. E. (77-78, Dd, 9)

Wilson, 0. C. (78, Dd, 6) Wilson, R. W. (74, F, 1.5) Wood, F. B. (77, Dd, 2) Young, T. (76, F, 0.7)

EMPLOYMENT TRENDS IN HISTORY OF SCIENCE

Employment prospects for younger his- torians of science, medicine, and tech- nology are better than they were five years ago, according to the results of the annual employment market survey conducted by the History of Science Society Committee on Women since 1975. The total number of positions advertised has increased from 24 for 1976/77 to 61 for 1980/81. With the exception of those positions advertised for the 1976/77 academic year, the number of permanent positions of all kinds has out- numbered temporary positions by a ratio of approximately 3 to 2. Academic teaching positions have increased at a phenomenal rate: from 13 in 1976/77 to 39 in 1980/81. Among these, the number of permanent tenure-line positions has increased faster than temporary or visiting appointments: only 5 tenure-line positions were adver- tised for 1976/77, while 25 were filled for the 1980/81 academic year. If current trends continue, younger historians of science will have a greater chance of gain- ing meaningful employment in the years ahead.

Even though the number of doctorates in history of science increases annually as the number of positions increases, competition for positions in history of science is by no means as great as for positions in history or philosophy, where the number of appli- cants routinely runs into the hundreds. Moreover, unlike history and philosophy, historians of science have a greater variety of opportunities available to them-over one-third of all openings annually are in museums, archives, and science-related institutions-and this circumstance in- creases the chances of finding employment. However, the level of competition among historians of science for academic posi- tions, which constitute approximately two- thirds of all openings, is aggravated by two other factors. ABD candidates are still considered more seriously for history of science positions than for general history positions, even though over the past five years the profession has moved from uni-

formly welcoming ABDs to considering ABDs only in exceptional cases or for temporary positions. Competition in his- tory of science is also aggravated by the equal consideration some search commit- tees give candidates with doctorates in other fields, particularly in one of the sciences.

It is this issue of professionalism that emerges as the most controversial issue in the survey replies received by the Commit- tee on Women. Unfortunately, it is also an issue that seems to separate historians from historians of science. Historians of sci- ence-along with archivists, museum cura- tors, and scientific organizations plan- ning to hire historians-are among those most willing to consider candidates with Ph.D.s in one of the sciences. Historians of science are also among those who de- emphasize broad historial training as necessary for positions in history of sci- ence. General historians, on the other hand, are extremely reluctant to consider a candidate who does not have a broad-based historical background, and they condemn the overspecialization evident in many younger historians of science.

In fact, historians seem to consider his- torians of science not well trained in history and historical methodologies and unable to fulfill the sine qua non of an appointment in history: a knowledge of general historical context. Such a perceived lack can well hurt the prospective candidate's chances for academic employment, as an increasing number of advertisements ask for compe- tency in teaching European or American history surveys along with specific area studies. The unpopularity of history of science as a minor field also appears to hinder the assimilation of courses in history of science into history curricula. History departments that want to offer courses in history of science but cannot afford a full- time historian of science have increasingly been asking for candidates with history of science as a minor field. These depart- ments report, however, that there are few history candidates with competency in his-

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Page 3: Employment Trends in History of Science

478 NEWS OF THE PROFESSION -ISIS, 72: 3: 263 (1981)

Table 1: Five-Year Employment Statistics

Employer 1976/77 1977/78 1978/79 1979/80 1980/81

Tenure-track and permanent positions

Academic institutions 5 9 12 18 25 Museums 0 0 1 2 7 Archives I I 1 3 3 Federal agencies 1 1 0 1 0 Foundations &

similar institutions 0 0 0 1 2 Other 3 0 1 1 1

Subtotal 10 11 15 26 38

Temporary and part-time positions

Academic institutions 8 1 5 11 14 Museums 1 0 0 0 0 Archives 1 1 1 6 4 Federal agencies 2 1 0 1 2 Foundations &

similar institutions 2 1 0 3 1 Other 0 0 0 2 2

Subtotal 14 4 6 23 23

Total 24 15 21 49 61

SOURCE: Kathryn M. Olesko, "Employment Market Report for Positions Beginning During the Academic Year 1976-77," HSS Newsletter, July 1977, 6(3):8-10; Olesko, "Employment Market Report for Positions Beginning During the Academic Years 1977-78 and 1978-79," HSS Newsl., Jan. 1979, 8(1):2-3; Olesko, "Employment Market Report for Positions Beginning During the Academic Year 1979-80," HSS Newsl., Jan. 1980, 9(1):1-4; Olesko, "Employment Market Report for Positions Beginning During the Academic Year 1980-81," HSS Newsl., Apr. 1981, 10(2):5-7.

NOTE: This table covers only advertised or announced positions; it includes positions for historians with competency in history of science.

tory of science and that they have been forced to hire a general historian who is con- sidered to be a better qualified historian and who has promised to work up courses in history of science after a few years. It would seem, therefore, that at medium- sized and smaller institutions requiring multiple competencies history of science is not always represented by individuals specifically trained in the field.

To alleviate both of these problems-to make historians of science better historians

and to entice historians to study history of science-fundamental changes at the ed- ucational level seem to be required. That historians may lack an appreciation of his- tory of science and its relevance to a general history curriculum may be due not to their own ignorance, but to institutional practices within history of science. For example, the existence of these and similar problems seriously calls into question the legitimacy of programs devoted exclusively to teaching and training in history of sci-

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Page 4: Employment Trends in History of Science

NEWS OF THE PROFESSION -ISIS, 72: 3: 263 (1981) 479

ence. Seen in years past as a sign of profes- sionalization in the field, such programs to- day may threaten professionalism by enforc- ing an artificial separation and distinction between history and history of science. The separation may prevent students of history of science from acquiring the historical training they need to be considered for the majority of the positions advertised, and students of history from having any contact with history of science at all. Changes in educational and institutional practices seem to be necessary, therefore, if the profession is to capitalize both on the growth experienced in the past few years and on the opportunity to assimilate into history departments. Until such changes

are made, historians of science may well remain a breed apart from historians in all other fields.

The Committee on Women will continue to explore new ways to conduct its employ- ment survey in order to provide the profes- sion with information on trends in the employment market. Knowledge of these trends is essential to an honest assessment of the nature and feasibility of certain graduate programs and of the possibilities of employment for younger members of the profession.

KATHRYN M. OLESKO Department of History

Georgetown University Washington, D.C. 20057

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