91673 - History of Scientific Institutions

Learning outcomes

History of scientific institutions. At the end of the course the student will gain the competencies required to follow the development of modern and contemporary scientific knowledge and its relations with the civil, economic and social scene, with special reference to Italy, through the history of scientific and cultural institutions, analysed primarily on the basis of archival and museum sources.

Course contents

"Title: Women, gender and science.

The course aims to historically analyze the general marginalization suffered by women in science and its institutions and, consequently, the perpetuation of their invisibility in the history of science. Moreover, scientific historiography has long been written by a select elite of men, whose ideology was to consider scientific disciplines the exclusive domain of strong and robust male minds. Even when such historiography provided some information on capable female researchers, they were considered either armchair phenomena or dangerous exceptions. In some cases (too many), their contribution to science was obscured. Generally, female figures were portrayed stereotypically, as heroines and/or dangerous rebels, thus blurring their scientific contribution so much that they were placed outside of mainstream science. 

 

Main topics

The course will open with an introduction to scientific institutions (Beretta, 2017).

He will then dwell on those images of nature which, referring to the social roles of women in different eras and cultures, have had a determining weight in the exclusion of women from scientific knowledge (Noble, 1994; Babini, Minuz, Tagliavini, 1986).

Furthermore, through several case studies, we will investigate the many ways in which women – despite their traditional exclusion – have practiced research over the last three centuries and often participated in actual scientific endeavors: Maria Gaetana Agnesi; Anna Morandi Manzolini; Laura Bassi; Marie Anne Paulze-Lavoisier; Mary Shelly; Maria Montessori and Gina Lombroso; Marie Curie; Rosalind Franklin (R. Simili, 2006). 

 

Readings/Bibliography

 

The program for attending students consists of studying the notes of the lectures and the following textbooks

M. Beretta, Storia materiale della scienza, Roma, Carocci, 2017, capitoli 3 “Scienza e comunicazione”, 7 “Le Accademie”; 8 “Le scienze e l’università”; 13 “Professione scienziato”; 14 “I Congressi”; 16 “I laboratori”.

D. F. Noble, Un mondo senza donne e la scienza occidentale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 1994, pp. 9-60, 205-301.

V.P. Babini, F. Minuz, A. Tagliavini, La donna nelle scienze dell’uomo. Immagini del Femminile nella cultura scientifica italiana di fine secolo, Milano, FrancoAngeli, 1986, pp. 1-77.

R. Simili (a cura di), Scienza a due voci, Firenze, Olschki, 2006, pp. 13-163;183-2015; 247-278.

S. Linguerri, “Matematiche, astronome, naturaliste”, in Dizionario biografico delle scienziate italiane (secoli XVIII-XX) vol. 2, Bologna, Pendragon, pp. 11-24.

M. Focaccia, “Architette, chimiche, fisiche, dottoresse”, in Dizionario biografico delle scienziate italiane (secoli XVIII-XX) vol. 1, cit., pp. 11-22.

 

Non-attending students

To the above texts they will have to add a written in-depth analysis on a character of their choice (for the bibliography and for a general discussion on the program contact the teacher).

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

Active participation is encouraged, including asking questions and discussing issues to be expanded on. Lectures will alternate with seminars; students will have the opportunity to attend conferences given by experts, to watch videos and explore websites, and to visit museums and/or libraries. At the end of each lesson, 15 minutes will be dedicated to questions, requests for clarification, etc. 

 

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Receipt for attending students:

During the period of the lessons the teacher receives, by appointment to be fixed by writing to the address sandra.linguerri@unibo.it, on Tuesday from 11 to 12 pm at the lecture venue. 

Outside the lectures period the teacher receives Monday from 10 to 11 - by appointment to be fixed by writing to the address sandra.linguerri@unibo.it - in his own studio in Via Zamboni 38, Bologna, II floor (studio 4.07)

Period: I semester

Schedules, classrooms, start date of lessons: The course follows the educational calendar of the School of Arts and Cultural Heritage. Beginning of the course, schedules and classrooms will be published by the Educational Office of the School

It is strongly recommended that you look assiduously at the notices that the teacher puts on his site to report any changes to the calendar.

Assessment methods

 Oral exam, lasting about 30 minutes, includes a check: - basic knowledge of the program: the assessment is carried out on the basis of the texts indicated in the bibliography - the ability to understand the problems faced during the lessons - knowledge of the discipline in its historical development - the ability to frame the objects / problems studied in their context, and to discuss them critically - the quality of oral expression and the ability to construct a logical-argumentative type of speech

The exam for attending students will be structured in two parts: 1) Two/three general-interpretative open questions; 2) evaluation of the work carried out individually on the "Science for two voices" site.


The exam for non-attending students will be divided into two parts: 1) Two/three general-interpretative open questions; 2) evaluation of the written study of a character of your choice. 

The assignment will be marked on the basis of the student’s ability to gather and select the appropriate information to be able to effectively illustrate and link topics and issues

Specifically :

The achievement of an organic and articulated vision, in-depth knowledge of the reference texts, the ability to critically use the arguments considered, expressive mastery and an appropriate use of specific language will be evaluated with excellent marks (30-30L). Exhaustive and satisfactory knowledge, substantially correct expression and good critical elaboration will be evaluated with points between 27 and 29. The acquisition of correct knowledge, but not critically elaborated, and the use of correct but not always precise language will lead to marks between 25 and 26. Mostly mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, unarticulated synthesis and/or analysis skills, correct but not specific language will lead to marks between 22 and 24. Only minimal knowledge of the course contents and/or inappropriate language will lead to low marks (18-21). Serious learning gaps, grossly inappropriate language, and a lack of understanding of the bibliographical materials discussed during the course will be assessed negatively and will result in failure to pass the exam.

 

The use of textbooks, notes or any electronic device is not allowed during the examination.

Teaching tools

During the lesson, the teacher uses PowerPoint slides (uploaded on the Virtual platform; they constitute an aid to the lesson that supplements but does not replace the teaching material indicated under the heading Texts / Bibliography), films and scientific documentaries.

Office hours

See the website of Sandra Linguerri