Using These Materials
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this collection is restricted because it is unprocessed. Portions of the collection may contain recent administrative records and/or personally identifiable information. Please contact an archivist for more information.
Navigate the Collection
Summary
- Abstract:
- Directed by Eugene I. Rabinowitch, the Center studied "human ecology" and interdiciplinary communications by sponsoring conferences, seminars, and symposia.
- Extent:
- 2.33 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Center for the Study of Science and Society Records, 1967-1972. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Center for the Study of Science and Society Records).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The Center for the Study of Science and Society, 1966-1972, files contain the papers of Eugene Rabinowitch, Victor Rabinowitch, and Eugene H. McLaren. The files consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, reports, budgets, and financial statements, grant proposals, conference programs and papers, participant lists, resumes, press releases, reprints, pamphlets, leaflets, and clippings.
The files detail the history, structure, and activities of the Center. There are files relating to grants, which funded the Center. There are also files detailing the Center's relationship with other offices and departments on the SUNYA campus, as well as with SUNY Central Administration and the New York legislature. Several files detail the conferences and symposia sponsored by the Center. In addition, there are files containing materials from or about similar public policy programs at other institutions.
- Biographical / Historical:
In the spring of 1966 Evan R. Collins, president of SUNYA, and Eugene Rabinowitch began a dialogue in which it was proposed that Rabinowitch come to SUNYA and help establish a research center which would be concerned with the impact of science and technology on public policy. In April 1967 the Educational Policies Council of the University Senate approved the creation of such a center, and an ad hoc planning committee was appointed. Throughout 1967 Rabinowitch working in conjunction with Eugene McLaren, assistant Dean of the Division of Science and Mathematics, organized the center and mapped out the future program and goals of the center.
By 1968 the Center for Science and the Future of Human Affairs was a reality. The Center was "organized for the purpose of orderly study of the interactions of modern science, its products and services, with the activities and aims of humankind." The Center was to develop "interdisciplinary research programs dealing with the impact of science and technology on man's personal and social existence" and considers "new approaches to education for life in the scientific age."
During 1967 and early 1968, Eugene Rabinowitch had presented a series of lectures at SUNYA. In September 1968 he was appointed as a professor of biology and chemistry at SUNYA with the additional duty of being senior advisor to the new Center.
On July 1, 1968 Victor Rabinowitch, son of Eugene Rabinowitch, was hired as director of the Center. Serving at the pleasure of SUNYA's president, Victor Rabinowitch was to be "senior administrator and manager of the operations of the Center." The director was assisted by an Advisory Committee drawn from the faculty of SUNYA.
The Center received a small planning grant from the Fleischmann Foundation in 1968. In 1969 another grant was received from the National Science Foundation; however, the Center never received sufficient support or funding from the state legislature, SUNY's central administration, or the SUNYA community.
In August 1969 the Center changed its name to the Center for the Study of Science and Society.
During its existence the Center did conduct at least four conferences. They include: The Scientific Revolution--Its Impact on Man and Society, March 1968; Evolutionary Processes, April 1970; The Integration of Science into General Education, May 1970; and, The Steady State Society, July 1971.
Frustrated by lack of support for the Center, Victor Rabinowitch, resigned as director on February 27, 1970. From March 1 to September 1, 1970 Eugene Rabinowitch was interim director of the Center. Heinz G. Pfeiffer was appointed director of the Center in April 1971, but by June 1971 he was no longer on the University payroll. The exact date that the Center ceased operations is unclear; however, this certainly happened by the time Eugene Rabinowitch left SUNYA in August 1972. The Center was finally a victim of the budget cuts and retrenchment which SUNYA underwent in the early 1970s.
- Acquisition information:
- All items in this collection were transferred to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives.
- Processing information:
Processed in 2016 by unprocessed.
- Arrangement:
The files are arranged alphabetically by name of individual, name of organization, or subject. A general file for each letter of the alphabet precedes files for the same letter of the alphabet (ie.: "A" precedes "Advisory Committee"). Material within the files is arranged chronologically by year, month, and day. Partially dated material is placed at the end of the month or year; undated items are placed after dated materials. Enclosures are placed after their letter of transmittal.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- Political Science
Conservation and the Environment
Science and society
Science and civilization
UAlbany Centers & Institutes - Names:
- State University of New York at Albany
State University of New York at Albany. Center for Science and the Future of Human Affairs
Rabinowitch, Eugene, 1901-1973
Collins, Evan R.
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this collection is restricted because it is unprocessed. Portions of the collection may contain recent administrative records and/or personally identifiable information. Please contact an archivist for more information.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
This page may contain links to digital objects. Access to these images and the technical capacity to download them does not imply permission for re-use. Digital objects may be used freely for personal reference use, referred to, or linked to from other web sites.
Researchers do not have permission to publish or disseminate material from these collections without permission from an archivist and/or the copyright holder.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and/or by the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. More information about U.S. Copyright is provided by the Copyright Office. Additionally, re-use may be restricted by terms of University Libraries gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.
The University Archives are eager to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Center for the Study of Science and Society Records, 1967-1972. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Center for the Study of Science and Society Records).