For its XXXIII Symposium, the Scientific Instruments Commission seeks to gather case-studies, in-depth papers and experiential reports offering a variety of perspectives around the theme ‘New Views on Old Instruments’.

Submissions of papers that identify and discuss new approaches to the study of scientific instruments and their collections, including new analytic methods, new cross-disciplinary perspectives, new ways of public engagement and display aimed at reaching broader audiences, new knowledge of networks of makers and users as well as studies of ‘newer’/post-war instruments are invited. The commission would also like to examine new social and political aims for scientific instruments and scientific heritage.

While the commission especially welcomes papers within this broad thematic framework, in keeping with the tradition at SIC symposia, submissions will not be restricted to the theme. Strong papers that generally contribute to the history of scientific instruments, their collections and museums, as well as their broader use within the history of science, technology and medicine, may also be accepted.

The setting of this forthcoming SIC annual symposium is the University of Tartu, Estonia, the oldest university in the Baltic. Visits are planned to the historical observatory with its famed Fraunhofer refractor as well as to the University’s instrument collections and anatomical theatre. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in excursions to the meridian arc established by Struve, now on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as several other collections and historic sites in the region.