Knowledge and science transfer – introductory remarks. The article presents introductory remarks on the historical study of knowledge and science transfer. Discussion focuses initially on the reasons for speaking of knowledge transfer and not only about science transfer, and the relations of this topic to current research in general history on cultural transfer. Multiple levels of knowledge / science transfer are then discussed, specifically: (1) transfer by means of migration or other movement of people across geographic boundaries; (2) scientific changes (...) related to the transfer of objects (such as plant specimens or instruments) across continents or disciplines; (3) knowledge or science transfer in practical contexts. Addressed throughout is the problematic character of the concept of transfer itself. The author suggests that users of this concept often presuppose a static conception of scientific and cultural contents being more or less successfully transferred; more interesting, however, are the changes in science and culture conditioned or caused by the migration of individuals as well as the transfer of culture by other means. (shrink)

What Determines the Emergence and Establishment of an Academic Discipline? The Development of Pharmacy at German Universities from 1880 to 1970. At universities new specialist subjects are developing steadily, but they rarely become established sub‐disciplines. The leading mechanisms of these processes seldom have been analyzed. The article investigates this problem, the development of the discipline of pharmacy at German universities from 1880 to 1970, from three different viewpoints: the processes inside the university structures, the politics of the organizations of professional (...) pharmacists, and the research promotion invested by the industry. The analysis is based on archival data. It results in the chokepoint that the proximity of neighbouring disciplines and their behaviour are essential. They limited the ways of getting academic reputation and the award of a new specialisation. The professional pharmaceutical organizations rather hindered processes of disciplinary differentiation. The research promotion by the industry had only marginal effect on the development of disciplinary structures. (shrink)