Georgina M. Montgomery

I read Constance Areson Clark's essay, “Popularizing Science.” Discussing the popularizing of science, Clark writes, “Americans evinced a strong interest in science and natural history. An energetic lyceum movement grew up in the early nineteenth century, especially in New England, offering lectures, including lecture demonstrations on specific topics…Audiences attended lectures demonstrating principles and phenomena of physics and chemistry delivered by well-known scientists and itinerant lecturers.” (pg. 481) Naturally, the press coverage of these scientists, especially if it included illustrations, created the scientific celebrity. Clark writes, “Pictures of prominent scientists introduced a novel form of scientific celebrity, auguring a new kind of relationship of scientists to the public while also perhaps creating a hierarchy of famous and less-famous scientists.” (pg. 482)… (mehr)