To celebrate the anniversary of the Philosophical Transactions, the world’s oldest scientific journal, the Royal Society will be hosting a major conference in spring 2015. At a time when the future of scientific publishing is in flux, this conference will take the long perspective by examining the transformations and challenges in the publishing of scientific journals over the last three and a half centuries, and into the future. We seek offers of papers, or proposals for three- or four-paper panels, which engage with any aspect of the commercial, editorial and distribution practices of scientific journal publishing, in any period since 1665, preferably with a comparative or longue durée perspective.
Papers or panels might address:
- The processes of printing, publishing or illustrating scientific journals
- The commercial practices of journal publishing
- The development of editorial and refereeing processes
- Distribution networks and marketing – regional, national and international
- Issues concerning the status, reputation and reception of competing journals
Participants must be willing and able to prepare their paper for speedy publication in autumn 2015.
Philosophical Transactions at 350
The Philosophical Transactions turns 350 on March the 6th, 2015. To celebrate this milestone in the history of science communication, a programme of events and activities is being planned for the Anniversary year. In addition, a major AHRC-funded research project, led by Dr Aileen Fyfe at the University of St Andrews in partnership with the Royal Society, is already under way, which will produce the first full history of the Philosophical Transactions.
www.royalsociety.org
https://arts.st.andrews.ac.uk/philosophicaltransactions/
Dr Noah Moxham
School of History, University of St Andrews
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
