About the Danish Society for the History of Technology
The society
is dedicated to furthering the research, education
and propagation of the history of technology in
Denmark. The society is also dedicated to promoting
the exchange of ideas and knowledge between
individuals and institutions working on subjects
related to the history of technology.
The history of technology is defined by the society as
Danish and international technology development
created by a complex interaction between technology
and culture including ethics, politics, economy and
other parameters. The history of technology is not
just about machines, products and systems but also
about social processes, i.e. humans, institutions
and other elements behind the technological
development.
Today, the
Danish Society for the History of Technology is the
largest society specializing in this subject in Denmark.
The society dates back to 1991 when a group of
historians from Aarhus University banded together to study
the history of technology.
Starting in educational institutions and museums in
Jutland, this eventually led to the foundation of
the society under the name Society for the History
of Technology in 1992 with lecturer Henry Nielsen,
Aarhus University as the first chairperson. In 1995, at a meeting in
Viborg, the decision to become a national society
was made and the name changed to the Danish Society
for the History of Technology. Lecturer Marianne
Rostgaard from Aalborg University was chairperson from 1995-1996.
Following her, the curator of the Steno Museum in Aarhus,
Hans Buhl, took over till 2005. Frank Allan Rasmussen, the director
of Frederick's Works Industrial Museum in Northen Zeeland,
has been chairperson since then. Today, the
society has about 70 members from all over the
country.
The most important annual event is the annual seminar which
is held at venues rotating between eastern or
western Denmark. As a rule, the seminars are held at an institution
or in a region with a certain topicality. In
addition to the program, which typically includes
lectures and discussions concerning recent aspects
and tendencies in subjects connected to the history
of technology, the seminars also include excursions
and/or conducted tours at museums as well as social
activities including a dinner. The annual general
meeting is held in conjunction with the annual
seminar.
After several years of tentative efforts, the website of
the Danish Society for the History of Technology is
up and running in 2008. The goal is that in addition
to providing information to the members the website
will be the history of technology focal point in Denmark.
Links to important foreign and Danish news about
the history of technology is one of the means to
make this goal a reality.
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