May 13, 2003
Contact: Wendy Bohrson (509-963-2835/fax 509-963-2821/e-mail: bohrson@geology.cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The relationship between science, history
and culture, and the influences they have on one another, will be the
focus of the keynote address at the eighth annual Central Washington
University Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression
(SOURCE). Part of a day-long event on the Ellensburg campus, it is
slated for Thursday, May 15, at 11 a.m. in the Science Building 147.
Dr. Naomi Oreskes, a professor in the department of history
and program in science studies at the University of California, San
Diego, will present the keynote.
“Her passion is for understanding the evolution of scientific
thought,” Dr. Wendy Bohrson, CWU geological sciences professor and
SOURCE director, says.
Oreskes early interests in geology led her to Australia,
where she worked on the origin of gold and silver deposits. Combining
her field observations with the existing school of thought concerning
the genesis of ore deposits ignited her interest toward understanding
how scientific thought is influenced by historical and cultural
contexts.
That fascination led to her dual Ph.D. from Stanford
University in geology and history of science. She also received her
B.Sc. in mining geology from The Royal School of Mines, Imperial
College at the University of London, England.
Prior to her arrival at U.C. San Diego, Oreskes was a
visiting professor Harvard University and served with the faculty at
New York University and Dartmouth College.
Her CWU presentation is titled, “Science, National Security,
and Academic Freedom: The World War II Case of Oceanographer Harald
Sverdrup, (with Implications for the Present).”
She wrote a paper on the same topic during which she outlined
how, during World War II, international connections and knowledge of
German language aroused suspicions of scientists, even though their
intellectual standing was held in high esteem. Sverdrup was among
those under suspicion. He was denied security clearance to work on
Navy-sponsored research. After gaining limited clearance, he developed
techniques for forecasting surf conditions during amphibious assaults,
which was credited with saving many lives.
For her teaching and research, Oreskes has been honored by the
National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities
Fellowship, Society of Economic Geologists and Scripps Institution of
Oceanography. She has also been named a “Who’s Who in American Science
and Engineering.”
SOURCE, from a small symposium based on undergraduate
research in the sciences alone, has grown into a campuswide event
attracting students from a wide variety of academic disciplines. This
year, 95 students and student groups will present their research in
oral and poster sessions Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., also in the
Science Building, and at 5:30 p.m. the SOURCE reception will be held in
the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery in Randall Hall, where student artwork will
be exhibited. Both of those events are free and open to the public.
At 6:30 p.m., the SOURCE awards banquet is planned for the
Samuelson Union Building Ballroom.
