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ICOHTEC statement on Russian aggression on Ukraine

Dear Friends and ICOHTEC Members,

ICOHTEC firmly refuses the unjustified military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the acts of war committed by the Russian Federation against civilian targets and the inhabitants of Ukraine, and the threat to use nuclear weapons.

Our thoughts are with the people suffering from brutal acts of warfare. As historians of technology, we know that the increasing inhumanity of wars due to more effective technology has been increasingly under discussion since the 20th century. From a global perspective it becomes evident that several wars are going on, and millions of people are suffering. In the 21st century, it is necessary to agree on the United Nations’ concept to outlaw wars. The states have to collaborate on improving social, economic, and environmental conditions to reduce social tensions.

ICOHTEC can’t contribute to all these fields, but it offers academic exchange and collaboration on current society- and technology-related questions based on the history of technology. Among our members, we have Russian and Ukrainian colleagues who are always welcome to contribute to ICOHTEC and attend our next symposia. We feel solidarity with our colleagues in Ukraine and recognize that the war means hard times also for Russian colleagues. ICOHTEC offers a setting for scholarly discussion, peaceful debates, and friendly cooperation to you, whatever your nationality is.

The Executive Board of ICOHTEC

DHST statement

Statement of the historians of science and technology of Ukraine

STATEMENT OF THE HISTORIANS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF UKRAINE 

On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale military invasion in Ukraine. For 47 days now, cities all over Ukraine have been under devastating missile and artillery fire, thousands of civilians and innocent children have been killed. The bombs hit residential areas, kindergartens, schools, hospitals and maternity hospitals, railway stations, theaters, universities, institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Odessa, Kramatorsk, Mariupol and other cities of Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainians are forced to hide in bomb shelters or evacuate in search of safety. Nuclear power facilities and nuclear power plants are under threat. Their destruction could lead to environmental catastrophe on a global scale. The entire scientific and technical sphere of Ukraine suffers significant losses.

It is a barbaric attack on an independent, peaceful and biggest in Europe democratic country, a threat to the entire civilized world, a crime against humanity, that is already under consideration by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Apocalyptic scale of civilian casualties is observed in the Ukrainian territories liberated from the russian army. In the suburbs of Kyiv (Bucha, Irpin, Gostomel, Borodyanka cities) peaceful people were tortured, women and children were raped and killed. Cars of people trying to escape were shot. There are mass graves, packages for corpses. All this was planned by the government of the Russian Federation from the very beginning.

(https://itvua.tv/news/zmi-vsoho-svitu-rozpovidaiut-pro-buchansku-rizanynu-foto/

https://ukranews.com/news/846392-rossijskie-voennye-rasstrelivali-devushek-i-zhenshhin-a-potom-ezdili-po-nim-tankami-mer-irpenya).

Today Russia’s policy is a civilization catastrophe of the world. Russia’s third president, Medvedev, says that their plans are Eurasia from Vladivostok to Lisbon. This means that there will be BUCHA from Vladivostok to Lisbon.

At the same time, the rating of support for the regime of Putin among Russians is growing. Therefore, every Russian who dropped bombs on peaceful cities, shot at unarmed people or simply remained silent is personally responsible for these crimes.

Today, the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ukrainian people are fighting for humanism at the forefront of this ideological confrontation. If Ukraine win – Europe and the World will survive. If the world does not stop the aggressor, each European country will have its own «February 24, 2022».

Therefore, the world scientific community terminates scientific and technical cooperation with russian scientists, their admission to international programs. Since 2014, after Russia’s annexation of part of the territory of Ukraine – Crimea – the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine has severed all scientific and scientific-technical contacts with Russian scientific institutions and researchers.

Historians of science and technology of Ukraine, among which are many members of ICOHTEC, call on ICOHTEC, which is based on humanistic principles of individual freedom and democracy, to publicly condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine and completely stop cooperating with Russian institutions and scientists!

Signed by the Ukrainian scientists

Ukrainian Society of Historians of Science
G.M.Dobrov Institute for Scientific and Technological Potential and Science History Studies NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv
Lytvynko Alla, Dr. of Sci., history of science and technology
Popovich Olexander, Dr. of Sci., history of innovation
Zhyvaga Oksana, PhD, history of education
Lugovsky Olexander, PhD, historiography of science and technology
Zvonkova Galyna, PhD, history of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine
Bessalova Tetjana, PhD, history of education
Mushkalo Yuri, PhD, history of chemistry
Garmasar Valentyna, PhD, history of biology
Doronina Galyna, PhD, history of geography
Stankova Maria, PhD, history of water purification
Vojtuk Olena, PhD, history of rocket and space engineering
Geza Aljona, researcher, history of cybernetics
Soldatova Ganna, postgraduate student, history of biology
National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute». Department of Ukrainian Studies, Cultural Studies and History of ScienceKharkiv
Sklyar Volodymyr, Dr. of Sci., history of science and technology, culturology
Tverytnykova Olena, Dr. of Sci., history of electrical engineering
Telukha Svitlana, PhD, historical biography
Tkachenko Svitlana, PhD, history of science and technology
Gutnyk Maryna, PhD, history of technology
Radogus Sergij, PhD, historical biography
Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro
Savchuk Varpholomij, Dr. of Sci., history of physics and technology
Romanets Olena, PhD, history of physics
Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv
Shenderovsky Vasyl, Dr. of Sci., history of physics
Lutsk National Technical University, Lutsk
Ivantsiv Vasyl, PhD, history of biology
Visin Olena, PhD, history of engineering
Small Academy of Sciences, Kyiv
Babichuk Iryna, PhD, history of chemistry
Poltava Museum of Aviation and Cosmonautics, Poltava
Pistolenko Iryna, Dr. of Sci., history of astronautics
State Polytechnic Museum, Kyiv
Tatarchuk Vitaly, head of the department, history of technology
Taras Shevchenko National University «Chernihiv Collegium», Chernihiv
Kilochytska Tetjana, PhD, history of mathematics
Hryhoriy Skovoroda University in Pereyaslav, Pereyaslav
Kozur Viktor, Dr. of Sci., Academician of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, Rector, history of science and technology
Kozur Nаdija, Dr. of Sci., history of biology and medicine
Varyvoda Kateryna, PhD, history of biology and medicine
Tovkun Lidia, PhD, history of biology and medicine
Kozubenko Yuri, PhD, history of biology and medicine
Palienko Olga, PhD, history of biology and medicine
Gordenko Svitlana, PhD, history of biology and medicine
National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute», Kyiv
Ponomarenko Liliia, PhD, history of physics
National Scientific Agricultural Library, Kyiv
Vergunov Viktor, Dr. of Sci., Academician of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Director, history of agriculture
Bey Roman, Dr. of Sci., Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, history of agriculture
Borodaj Iryna, Dr. of Sci., history of animal husbandry
Demuz Inna, Dr. of Sci., history of scientific societies
Korzun Olena, Dr. of Sci., history of agriculture
Kucher Volodymyr, Dr. of Sci., history of agriculture
Annenkova Natalia, Dr. of Sci., history of technology
Shchebetyuk Natalia, Dr. of Sci., history of agriculture
Pidhayna Tetjana, PhD, history of agriculture
Annenkov Igor, PhD, history of mechanical engineering
Nyzhnyk Svitlana, PhD, historical biography
Shchigol Ganna, PhD, historical biography
Tatarchuk Liudmila, PhD, history of agriculture
Volodymyr Vynnychenko Central Ukrainian State Pedagogical University, Kropyvnytskyi
Pasichnik Natalia, Dr. of Sci., history of economy
Rizhnyak Renat, Dr. of Sci., history of informatics
Deforzh Ganna, Dr. of Sci., history of biology
Sadovy Mykola, PhD, history and methodology of teaching physics
Tkachuk Andriy, Ph.D., semiconductor physics, history of physics
Kushnir Vasyl, Ph.D., methodology of teaching mathematics
Salnyk Iryna, Ph.D., history and methodology of teaching physics
Velychko Stephan, Ph.D., history and methodology of teaching physics
Kalinichenko Nadiya, Ph.D., history and methodology of teaching biology
Trifonova Olena, Ph.D., history and methodology of teaching physics
Shandruk Svitlana, Ph.D., history of pedagogy
Tsarenko Oleg, Ph.D., history of semiconductor physics
Kharchenko Yuliya, Ph.D., history of philosophy
Botuzova Yulia, Ph.D., methodology of teaching mathematics
Vovkotrub Viktor, Ph.D., methodology of teaching physics, history of science
Yaremenko Yuri, Ph.D., algebra, history of mathematics
Nichyshyna Victoria, Ph.D., history and methodology of teaching mathematics
Voynalovych Natalia, Ph.D., history and methodology of teaching mathematics
Zavitrenko Dolores, Ph.D., inclusive education
Snysarenko Iryna, Ph.D., History of German Philology

CfP: Modernization by the State and its Ecological Consequences in East-Central Europe

Call for Papers

Online Workshop, Centre for Economic and Social History, University of Ostrava, Czechia, 5-6 May 2022

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries urbanization and industrialization altered the environment in a dramatic fashion throughout Europe. Much of this change in East-Central Europe was instigated, facilitated and coordinated by the state. The economic and technological intervention by the state and its interconnectedness with capitalism and science has had tremendous ecological consequences since the eighteenth century. According to James Scott, one of the most well-known critics of the modern state and its ecological impact, bureaucratic regimes’ aim to organize their societies according to the technocratic principles of “high modernism” has been devastating to the environment. Scott maintains that the centralized modernization attempts often failed to take local knowledge into account and amplified the forces of homogenization, uniformity, grids, and heroic simplification.

Although there have been substantial studies related to the complex interconnectedness of state-intervention, capitalism and anthropogenic environmental change, the scientific community still knows little about the complexities and environmental aspects of specific modernization attempts in many parts of the world, including East-Central Europe.

To cover this gap the Centre for Economic and Social History at the University of Ostrava invites both established researchers and graduate students to submit their paper proposals to be presented at the online workshop “Modernization by the State and its Ecological Consequences in East-Central Europe” organized online on 5-6 May 2022.

All themes related to the econo-environmental history of modern East-Central Europe are welcome, and the following themes are particularly sought after:

  • Consumption and waste
  • Extractive practices and the environment
  • Industrialization and ecology
  • Urbanization and nature
  • State, capitalism, science and the environment

Submissions should include a 300 words abstract and max. one-page author CV and should be sent by 28 February 2022  to organizers at cesh@osu.cz

Download as PDF

Open Position: Senior Historian, IEEE History Center, Piscataway, NJ, USA

Open Position:  Senior Historian, IEEE History Center, Piscataway, NJ, USA

IEEE, a 501(c)(3) association is the world’s largest technical professional organization for the advancement of technology.  IEEE seeks a Senior Historian to be a part of the professional historian team of the IEEE’s History Center.  The mission of the Center is to preserve and make known the history of IEEE, its members, their industries and professions, and the related sciences technologies rooted in electrical, electronic, and computer engineering. The position reports to the Senior Director of the History Center.  The full staff compliment is seven, including the Senior Director and three Ph.D.-level historians.

The incumbent will contribute in the following ways to one or more of the following History Center Programs as assigned by the History Center Senior Director and laid out in the annual goal-setting process: Contributing content and curriculum development to the History Center’s pre-university REACH Program; managing the IEEE’s oral history program and conducting oral histories; overseeing institutional history projects; contributing content to the Engineering & Technology History Wiki; managing and/or contributing content to the History Center’s publication program through research, writing, and editing; organizing and/or contributing content to conferences; organizing and/or contributing content to exhibits in the Center’s exhibit program; and responding to reference requests. In addition, the incumbent will be responsible for assisting the Senior Director in strategic oversight of the History Center’s operational activities, including: fundraising; external communication; managing relationships with appropriate IEEE staff, volunteers, contractors, consultants and stakeholders; budgeting and other financial processes; occasionally directly managing interns and other temporary employees; and filling in when appropriate when the Senior Director is absent.

The position requires a doctoral-level degree in history of technology or related field, and seven years relevant post-doctoral experience.  Experience at a museum or other nonprofit environment, including in fundraising, budgeting, and/or finance, would be beneficial.

The full position description and information on how to apply can be found here: https://ieee.taleo.net/careersection/1/jobdetail.ftl?job=210224&tz=GMT-05%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York