How scientific research instruments change

A century of Nobel Prize physics instrumentation

Bibliographic Data

ID3092974
AuthorsAnne Marcovich (University of Paris IV, France), Terry Shinn (0000-0003-1294-188X, CNRS University of Paris IV, France, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume56
Issue3
Pages348-374
Publication date2017-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science Information (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0539-0184 • E-ISSN: 1461-7412
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0539018417709099
OpenAlexW2614188852
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited41

This article explores structures of intellectual, operational and institutional transformations of scientific research instrumentation in the 20th century. The study of 26 Nobel Prizes in physics instrumentation between 1901 and the present yields abundant and systematic information related to change and stability of instrument function, instrument trajectory and the social organization of instrument-related work. This yields three configurations: 'bounded', 'extensionist' and 'linked'. One can observe for the late 20th century the emergence of an unprecedented form of instrumented-related cognitive operation that we dub 'instrument knowledge

Physics · Political science · Quantum mechanics · Scientific instrument · Computer Science · History of Science and Natural History · Philosophy and History of Science

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