About PACHS

Promoting scholarly and public understanding of history of science, technology and medicine.

The Philadelphia Area Center for History of Science (PACHS) provides perspective on the changes in science, technology and medicine that have shaped our lives. The Center makes use of the exceptional resources of the Philadelphia area to support research, to foster a vibrant community of scholars, and to build bridges between the scholarly community and broader audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

In pursuance of its mission, the Center is building:

  • Fellowship programs that will bring senior scholars, young researchers and dissertation students to Philadelphia to participate in the Center's academic and public programming while they conduct research in the area's rich archives.
  • An interdisciplinary community of scholars in Philadelphia that will advance knowledge, mentor young scholars, and stimulate novel and creative research through collegial and rigorous discussion, debate and collaboration.
  • Partnerships with teachers at all levels, with scientific, technical, and medical professionals, and with other educational and cultural institutions to provide historical perspective on the production, practice, teaching, learning, and experience of science, technology and medicine for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

    • Center events include a colloquium series, academic conferences and talks, workshops and roundtables held for public audiences. A rich web-based infrastructure allows the Center to provide content, services and online events for a large and diverse audience as well as a cross-institutional search capacity for researchers.

    The Center is pursing this ambitious agenda with generous help from its partners. Planning support was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Current funding is provided by the National Science Foundation, the members of the consortium, an educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc., and gifts from individual donors. The Center is housed in space provided by the American Philosophical Society.

    Website design and programming by Nanomonkey.

    Thomas Hunt Morgan in fly room, ca 1920
    Image courtesy of the American Philosophical Society