E-Newsletter: October 2018
Museum News
New in the museum: Object Explorer!
When the museum at the Chemical Heritage Foundation opened in 2008, its centerpiece was a two-story media column, 18 screens playing a 14-minute display of high-definition images of items in the gallery and elements on the periodic table. But as we approached the museum’s 10th anniversary, we realized the column had reached the end of its life. It was time for a makeover—a new centerpiece for the new Science History Institute!

The Object Explorer opens this month, taking the media column to a whole new level. The screens have been refitted and now show our collections in a fresh way, but the real showstoppers are the touch tables in front of the column. They’re scattered with images you can touch to learn their history. Grab and place any of the bright yellow 3D-printed objects to navigate through more in-depth stories. “I’m most excited about the diversity of images in the new Object Explorer, which includes historical photographs, consumer advertisements, patent illustrations, and images from the Institute’s digital collection,” says Jesse Smith, content developer. “This range quickly communicates to visitors the rich entanglement of science, materials, and contemporary life that they can explore in this new digital experience.”  

Be sure to check out the Object Explorer during your next visit!
The Scholars Arrive!
Introducing our new fellow(ship)s
Ready to delve even deeper into their chosen slice of science history, our latest scholars-in-residence have begun to fill our halls with infectious excitement.

Our new fellows hail from all over the United States as well as France, England, Uruguay, Israel, and Germany. They will be accessing our collections as they research topics ranging from the history of veterinary pharmacology, to artificial sweeteners, to science education on TV.

The names and faces aren’t all that’s new in the Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry. This year the center launched its redesigned long-term postdoctoral fellowship program. The  80/20 Postdoctoral Fellowships give our long-term postdocs a chance to remain in residence for two academic years. They spend one day a week (20% of their time) working closely with an Institute staff member on projects related to collections, curation, exhibitions, or public outreach. After two years they will have gained skills and experience that can enhance their opportunities outside the academy or enrich their work within it. 

Learn all about the current fellows and their projects.
Crisp Weather, CRISPR Tech
CRISPR-Cas9 double feature this fall
CRISPR-Cas9 technology is rapidly changing the way we approach disease. It enables geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome by removing, adding, or altering sections of DNA. It is the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable system for editing genes, and it may hold the key to curing diseases that have a genetic component.
If you’ve seen CRISPR-Cas9 in the news and want to learn more, we have two programs this fall you might be interested in! First up is October 11, where we’ll have Katrine Bosley, CEO of Editas Medicine, delivering a lunchtime talk called “Making Medicines: The Journey from CRISPR Technology into CRISPR Medicines.” If you want to learn about CRISPR-Cas9 in action, this is the talk for you: Bosley will tell us about the progress her team has made over the past four years and what’s next as they begin human clinical trials with their first experimental medicine for a rare, genetic form of childhood blindness. The program starts at 11:30 a.m. and includes a networking reception and lunch.
If you’d like more of a bird’s-eye view, join us on November 16 for the Ullyot Public Affairs Lecture, which will be delivered by one of the inventors of CRISPR-Cas9, Jennifer Doudna. She will discuss not only how she played a role in developing this world-altering technology but also the ethical and societal implications of genome editing. The lecture will begin at 6:00 p.m. and is followed by a reception. 
From the Blog
The Distillations blog provides updates from the intersections of science, culture, and history.
Isaac Newton invented calculus, deciphered gravity, and authored two immortal scientific treatises. Did he also fight crime?

Science History Institute staff recommends articles, videos, and blog posts from around the web to add to your binge lists.
In Brief
  • In partnership with the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie, the Institute will present the Franklin-Lavoisier Prize to the Comité Lavoisier. Created in 1948 by the Académie des Sciences and reorganized in 1980, the Comité preserves and publishes the correspondence of Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier. Learn more.
  • The Othmer Library turns 30! The library was founded in 1988 when Donald and Mildred Topp Othmer announced their challenge grant to be given for the creation of a library that would work to preserve the history of the chemical sciences. The collection has grown to over 140,000 print volumes, rare books and manuscripts, archival materials, and historical photographs.
Program Spotlight
Frankenstein, vampires, and werewolves are part of the lore of Halloween, but where did these horror tropes originate?

Vampire and werewolf legends actually have origins in historical fact, and there once were real Victor Frankensteins seeking to animate the dead and actual grave robbers terrifying the public. Living-history performers Dean Howarth and Rachel O’Connell will explore the science behind classic horror tales through macabre stories and demonstrations. 

Reserve your tickets here. Come early and try the new Object Explorer, as the museum will be open until 7:00 p.m.
On the Calendar
Brown Bag Lecture
Tuesday, October 9 | 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Joseph Priestley Society Luncheon
Thursday, October 11 | 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday Speaker
Saturday, October 13 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Workshop
Saturday, October 13 | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Conference
Tuesday, October 16 | 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Award
Thursday, October 18 | 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Public Event
Tuesday, October 30 | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Joseph Priestley Society Symposium
Thursday, November 8 | 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Saturday Speaker
Saturday, November 10 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Workshop
Saturday, November 10 | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Brown Bag Lecture
Tuesday, November 13 | 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Ullyot Public Affairs Lecture
Friday, November 16 | 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Brown Bag Lecture
Tuesday, December 4 | 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Fellow in Focus
Wednesday, December 5 | 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday Speaker
Saturday, December 8 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Workshop
Saturday, December 8 | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Your support of the Science History Institute is vital to our museum, collections, library, public programs, research fellowships, and so much more.

Thanks for Reading!
The Science History Institute e-newsletter is published every other month. Comments, questions, or suggestions? Contact enews@sciencehistory.org
 
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