History of Technoscience

David F. Channell is Professor of Historical Studies and the History of Ideas at the University of Texas at Dallas.

What is the connection between science and technology? Do technological advances spring from new discoveries in science (the view traditionally held by many), or could it be argued that the opposite occurs—that scientific discoveries depend on advances in technology? Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in between: science and technology are inexorably intertwined, belonging to a single discipline we might refer to as “technoscience. The relationship between science and technology is masterfully outlined in this work. Channell (Univ. of Texas, Dallas) surveys the literature for various interpretations of the connection between science and technology, while tracing these connections from the so-called Second Industrial Revolution in the 19th century through the relationship between science and technology during the two world wars, and culminating with a study of technoscience in the latter half of the 20th century as manifested in the fields of electronics, material sciences, and biotechnology. In sum, the book represents an important contribution to the fields of science and technology studies, while proposing new frameworks (and questions) for future historians - T. Timmons, University of Arkansas--Fort Smith, CHOICE Magazine

• Introduction1. Relationships between Science and TechnologyTerminologyTechnology as Dependent upon ScienceScience and Technology as IndependentScience as Dependent upon TechnologyScience and Technology as InterdependentErasing the Boundaries between Science and TechnologyNotesPart I: The Roots of Technoscience2. From Science-Based Industry to Industry-Based ScienceChemical-Based IndustriesOrganic Chemical Industries – Synthetic Dyes, Pharmaceuticals and PlasticsHeavy Chemical Industries – Alkalis, Acids and ExplosivesElectrical Industrial Research Laboratories – Electric LightingElectrical Industrial Research Laboratories – Telephone and RadioNotes3. Setting the Stage for the Military-Industrial-Academic Complex: World War IThe Military Build-Up to World War IWorld War IChemical Warfare – ExplosivesChemical Warfare – GasRadioNaval WarfareAerial WarfareNotes4. Setting the Stage for Big Science: The Interwar PeriodChemical Research and DevelopmentAviation Research and DevelopmentRocket Research and DevelopmentAtomic and Nuclear ResearchNotes5. The Emergence of the Military-Industrial-Academic Complex and Big Science: World War IIUranium ResearchThe Military-Industrial-Academic ComplexRadar and SonarChemical and Medical ResearchMilitary ComputersThe Atomic Bomb -- Big ScienceNotesPart II: The Era of Technoscience6. The Nuclear Arms RaceThe H-BombNuclear ReactorsHigh Energy PhysicsNotes7. The Space ProgramThe Missile RaceThe Space RaceThe Moon RaceAstronomyPlanetary ScienceAstrophysicsNotes8. ElectronicsGeneral Purpose ComputersThe TransistorThe Integrated CircuitComputer ScienceNotes9. Material ScienceLasersSuperconductivityNanotechnologyNotes10. BiotechnologyGeneticsThe Double HelixThe Genetic CodeGenetic EngineeringThe Human Genome ProjectNotesEpilogue11. The New World of TechnoscienceWorks Cited