Reine und angewandte Chemie Die Entstehung einer neuen Wissenschaftskonzeption in der Chemie der Aufklärung

In its attempt to achieve acknowledgement and support as a true science and academic discipline eighteenth-century chemistry experienced that the traditional distinction between theory and practice, respectively between science and art, was an incriminating heritage and did not longer conform to the way chemists saw themselves. In order to substitute the former, socially judging classification into theoretical science and practical art, J. G. Wallerius from Uppsala coined the term pure and applied chemistry in 1751. The idea behind this new conception was that it ought to be chemistry's research aim and not the kind of work, be it manual or intellectual, which was to decide about its branches and their dignity. The change in orientation which took place during the eighteenth century, and which is symbolized by the new dichotomy “pure and applied”, led towards a revaluation of the utilitarian aspects of chemistry. Its historical roots reach back to a long and fruitful cooperation of, and interaction between chemistry and economy, which was reinforced by the Stahlian tradition in Germany and Scandinavia. Subsequently, it was its strong economic bias that helped chemistry to become institutionalized and accepted as an academic discipline distinct from the medico-pharmaceutical profession. The analysis of this change of attitudes, behaviour and institutional pattern suggests that, at least during the period of institutionalization of this particular discipline, social structures and the intrinsic scientific contents are so tightly interrelated, that any division into “internal”, cognitive developments (facts, theory and subject-matter) and “external” conditions (social context and stategies of institutionalization) would be artificial, since they both constitute the scientific community as a context of argumentation and action.     

The correspondence of Johann Bartholomäus Trommsdorff (1770-1837): more then a source book of pharmaceutical history

The aim of this paper is to present the publication of the correspondence of Johann Bartholom?us Trommsdorff (1770 bis 1837) and to inform about the history of this project as well as the methodical proceedings and the content of these letters. The opportunities and limitations of the modern Trommsdorff research, based on the publication of his correspondence, will be shown. His contacts have been manifold and expansive. He corresponded with many famous scientists in pharmacy, chemistry, medicine and with important people of intellectual origin. Trommsdorff was a highly important person of the international European relationships in the field of pharmacy. Many publications certify the importance of the Trommsdorff-correspondence. The publication of these letters has opened new biographical aspects and allows to follow the connections and ways of communication in the new age of the foundation of scientific pharmacy.     

Engaging Local Knowledge in Biodiversity Research: Experiences from Large Inter- and Transdisciplinary Projects

Abstract

The management of biodiversity represents a research topic that needs to involve not only several (sub-) disciplines from the natural sciences but, in particular, also the social sciences and humanities. Furthermore, over the last couple of years, the need for the integration of other kinds of knowledge (experience based or indigenous knowledge) is increasingly acknowledged. For instance, the incorporation of such knowledge is indispensable for place-based approaches to sustainable land management, which require that the specific ecological and social context is addressed. However, desirable as it may be, such an engagement of the holders of tacit knowledge is not easy to achieve. It demands reconciling well-established scientific procedural standards with the implicit or explicit criteria of relevance that apply in civil society — a process that typically causes severe tensions and comes up against both habitual as well as institutional constraints. The difficulty of managing such tensions is amplified particularly in large integrated projects and represents a major challenge to project management. At the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research — UFZ, several integrated research projects have been conducted over the past years in which experience has been gained with these specific challenges. This paper presents some of the lessons learned from large integrated projects, with an emphasis on project design and management structure. At the centre of the present contribution are experiences gained in the coordination and management of LEGATO (LEGATO stands for Land-use intensity and Ecological EnGineering — Assessment Tools for risks and Opportunities in irrigated rice based production systems, see www.legato-project.net), an ongoing, large-scale, inter- and transdisciplinary research project dealing with the management of irrigated rice landscapes in Southeast Asia. In this project, local expertise on traditional production systems is absolutely crucial but needs to be integrated with natural and social science research to identify future-proof land management systems.     

Wirtschaftsförderung und Immobilienwirtschaft

Abstrakt Immobilienwirtschaft als Partner der Stadtentwicklung? Zugegeben eine Sichtweise, die oftmals in der Ausbildung von Planern oder Geographen etwas zu kurz kommt. Dabei w?re es oft sinnvoll, bei der Planung auch die Sicht der Immobilienwirtschaft respektive der künftigen Nutzer zu berücksichtigen. Seit jeher haben sich St?dte auch und vor allem durch die Baut?tigkeit von Privaten entwickelt. Investitionen der Kommunen und des Staates beschr?nkten sich in der Regel auf technische und soziale Infrastruktureinrichtungen und das eine oder andere Renommierobjekt, wie beispielsweise Museen, Theater, Opern. In Zeiten knapper ?ffentlicher Kassen werden selbst dafür zunehmend private Investitionen ben?tigt. In dem sich aktuell versch?rfenden Wettbewerb der St?dte und Regionen sind Investoren, die zur baulichen und wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung beitragen, wichtiger denn je. Wie sich das Zusammenspiel von Immobilienwirtschaft und Wirtschaftsf?rderung in der Praxis darstellt, schildern die Autoren beispielhaft anhand ihrer Erfahrungen aus der kommunalen Wirtschaftsf?rderung.     

The British road to war: Blair, Bush and the decision to invade Iraq

The British decision to go to war against Iraq with the United States has been widely criticized for being based on inaccurate and exaggerated assessments of the threat posed by Iraq. This article shows that the case for military action made by the British government was based on a measured analysis of the threat, on the conviction that the continued containment of Iraq through sanctions was not effective or morally acceptable, and that the human rights violations of the Iraqi regime were of a such a scale that they could no longer be tolerated. The article then assesses the judgements of the British government in the light of the information that has come to light since the war against Iraq in 2003.     

Der Scharlatan auf dem Rechtsweg — und was vielleicht zu seiner Umlenkung getan werden könnte

A number of recent allegations of scientific misconduct in Germany have led to judicial proceedings. Two examples are analyzed in depth, showing evidence for mutual incompatibilities between the legal system and the scientific system. In particular, it seems doubtful whether basic rules of good scientific practice are adequately and consistently taken into account by the courts when assessing the burden of proof. Strengths and weaknesses of some alternatives to judicial proceedings in such cases are discussed.