Diversity of science cultures during and after the Cold War

The political tensions between the Eastern and the Western Bloc after the second world war, commonly referred to as the Cold War, had profound effects on cultures on both sides of the geopolitical divide, including scientific cultures. During the roughly four decades that the Cold War lasted, scientific cultures were somewhat, though not completely separated, resulting in divergent and convergent evolution of cultural norms and standards in the practice of the sciences.

Convergence led to parallel developments, sometimes independently, sometimes in collaboration in spite of the political rift. This in turn allowed for the migration and quick integration of Soviet-trained scientists after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. And yet, some of the effects of divergence are still keenly felt by scientists working in multicultural research institutions or collaborating on the global scale, even thirty years after the end of the Cold War.

Our workshop aims to bring together philosophers, historians and sociologists of science to discuss aspects of divergence and convergence: examples of divergent or convergent cultures during the Cold War or their effects in current science practice.

The deadline is EXTENDED until April 30, 2019.

IASCUD Conference Committee.

Nina Atanasova, Peeter Müürsepp, Vitaly Pronskikh.