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Studying history of science
during Islamic era has a fundamental role in
creating and reinforcing national and spiritual
identity. Iranians should also play prominent role
in introducing the Muslim scientists and their
achievements. It was due to this need that Institute
for the History of Science was established to
partially materialize research duties of University
of Tehran. As stated in the 3rd chapter
of the foundational document of the Institute the
main duties which it is expected to perform are as
follows:
I.
Execution of fundamental research projects in the
field of History of Science, including exact
sciences (Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics and
Technology) and natural sciences (Medicine,
Pharmacology, Biology and Mineralogy)
II.
Carrying
on post graduate history of sciences courses at the
M.S. and Ph.D. level in order to provide expert
staff for universities and other science centers.
III.
Formation of specialized library and data bank for
the history of science subjects.
IV.
Creation
of coordinated and effective relation with Iranian
and foreign experts and researchers.
V.
Carrying
out specialized and public lectures in the field of
history of science.
VI.
Publication of prominent Islamic era science works,
and also the journal and bulletin of Tarikhe Elm
(e.g. History of Science).
VII.
Utilization of the latest achievements gained by
history of science institutions in all research
levels.
The institute has made strides
in carrying out some of these goals, including
preparing the ground for post graduate History of
Science M.S. degree courses in four majors of
Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics and Technology, and
Medicine and Pharmacology; facilitating institute’s
specialized library; and publication of Tarikhe
Elm journal. Tharikhe Elm journal is
currently being published biannually to maintain
some of the goals mentioned in the fundamental
document of the institute, especially article 7 of
the 3rd chapter. It is aimed at filling
the gap for a periodical scholarly publication
devoted solely to the history of science.
The need for such a publication
seems evident, but it can be reminded that up to now
there was no specialized periodical in Iran devoted
to the history of science except two journals of
Farhang (published by Humanities and Cultural
Studies Research Centre) and Ayene’ye Miras
(by Written Heritage Publication Centre) which
occasionally have published special issues on the
subject, or some scattered papers in various other
periodicals. Unfortunately even it can be claimed
that currently not a single periodical is published
in the field of history of science in the whole of
the Islamic world since the time that Tarikh
al-Olum al-Arabiyah (published by Centre for
Arabian Scientific Heritage, Aleppo, Syria) was
discontinued.
Iran’s place in development of
the Islamic era science and the history of the world
science is so widespread that that it needs
publication of several of such specialist journals.
Huge number of treaties and books by the Iranian and
other Muslim scientists and scholars are yet in
manuscript format waiting to be researched, analyzed
and published; and despite some individual
monographs or introductory works there is yet ample
room for working on many areas of fundamental
research. It is very essential that along the
current lines of research on the works and
achievements of Muslim scientists; especially the
enormous heritage of the Iranians on every
imaginable field of research; especial attention be
paid to the political, social, cultural and
psychological incentives behind the initial
flourishing and subsequent decline of scientific
inquiry among the Muslims. Also it is essential that
theoretical and research methods applied by the
Muslim scientists be assessed in depth, and merits
or shortcomings of them explicitly be expressed.
This approach, beside its importance from a
historical point of view, has educational value
which can help policy makers in academia and
elsewhere.
Our goal in publishing
Tarikhe Elm journal is to prepare the ground for
raising, in quality and quantity, the level of study
and research in all fields of history of science and
technology in Islamic world through publishing the
results of such studies and researches.
Ahmad
Badkoobeh Hazaveh
Chairman of institute |
