The Politics of Commemoration on Molecular Biology

本项目通过比较美国、英国和法国分子生物学家最早的周年纪念活动，探索科学中集体记忆或纪念的政治。 纪念活动被视为继承的仪式，在这个仪式上，过去的一代让位给即将到来的精英。 同样令人关切的是，科学家的个人、私人甚至无关紧要的记忆被转化为集体、公共和政治上有用的纪念活动。 将相当注意那些被排除在纪念活动之外的人和事件的特点。 为了实现这些目标，我将研究出版和未出版的文件，包括关键人物的通信，并将进行口述历史和最近的纪念活动的人种学实地研究。

This project explores the politics of collective memory or commemoration in science by comparing the earliest anniversary celebrations of American, British and French molecular biologists. Commemorative events are viewed as rites of succession, in which the passing generation gives place to the upcoming elite. Also of concern is the way that scientists' individual, private and even inconsequential memories are transformed into collective, public and politically-useful commemorations. Considerable attention will be given to the characteristics of those persons and events that have been excluded from commemoration. To accomplish these ends I will examine published and unpublished documents, including correspondence of key figures, and will conduct oral histories and ethnographic field studies of recent commemorative events.