Nuncius-Journal of the History of Science

Scope & Guideline

Illuminating the Past, Inspiring Future Inquiry

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of Nuncius-Journal of the History of Science with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageMulti-Language
ISSN0394-7394
PublisherBRILL
Support Open AccessNo
CountryNetherlands
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1986 to 1988, from 1990 to 2024
AbbreviationNUNCIUS / Nuncius
Frequency3 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressPLANTIJNSTRAAT 2, P O BOX 9000, 2300 PA LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS

Aims and Scopes

The journal Nuncius: Journal of the History of Science provides a platform for interdisciplinary research that examines the development of scientific ideas, practices, and instruments throughout history. Its aims are to promote a deeper understanding of how science has evolved in various cultural contexts, emphasizing the interplay between science, society, and gender.
  1. Interdisciplinary Historical Analysis:
    The journal focuses on the historical evolution of science, integrating perspectives from various disciplines such as history, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. This approach allows for a nuanced understanding of scientific developments.
  2. Cultural Contexts of Science:
    Nuncius emphasizes the importance of cultural and geographical contexts in the history of science, exploring how local practices, beliefs, and politics influence scientific knowledge and its dissemination.
  3. Gender Studies in Science:
    A significant focus is on the roles of gender in the history of science, examining how women and marginalized groups have contributed to scientific advancements and how their experiences shape scientific narratives.
  4. Material Culture and Scientific Instruments:
    The journal investigates the role of material culture, including scientific instruments and collections, in the practice and communication of science, highlighting how objects influence scientific thought and public understanding.
  5. Historical Case Studies:
    Nuncius publishes detailed case studies that illustrate specific moments or movements in the history of science, providing insights into the complexities of scientific inquiry and the socio-political environments that shape it.
Nuncius is adapting to current scholarly interests and societal discussions, leading to the emergence of new themes in its publications. The following points highlight these trending and emerging scopes.
  1. Intersection of Science and Gender:
    There is an increasing focus on how gender influences scientific practice and knowledge production, as evidenced by numerous recent articles examining women's roles in science and the implications of gendered perspectives.
  2. Cultural Heritage and Science:
    Recent publications emphasize the importance of cultural heritage in understanding scientific practices, highlighting how historical artifacts and collections can illuminate scientific narratives and societal values.
  3. Environmental and Medical Histories:
    Emerging themes include historical analyses of environmental science and medical practices, reflecting contemporary concerns about health and ecology, and how these intersect with historical developments.
  4. Science and Colonialism:
    There is a growing interest in the relationship between science and colonialism, exploring how imperial contexts shaped scientific knowledge and practices, particularly in the Global South.
  5. Visual Culture in Science:
    The journal is increasingly publishing works that analyze the role of visual culture in the dissemination and understanding of scientific ideas, recognizing the impact of images and visual representations in shaping public perceptions of science.

Declining or Waning

While Nuncius continues to explore a rich array of themes in the history of science, certain topics appear to be diminishing in prominence over recent years. This section highlights areas that have seen a decline in scholarly focus.
  1. Traditional Scientific Biography:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in papers focusing solely on the biographical details of famous scientists, suggesting a shift towards broader thematic explorations that place scientific figures within larger socio-cultural contexts.
  2. Purely Technical Studies of Instruments:
    Studies centered exclusively on the technical specifications and functions of scientific instruments are becoming less common, as the journal increasingly favors investigations that place these instruments within a historical narrative or cultural framework.
  3. Eurocentric Perspectives:
    The journal appears to be moving away from Eurocentric narratives of scientific history, reflecting a growing interest in global perspectives and the contributions of non-Western cultures to scientific knowledge.
  4. Static Historical Narratives:
    There is a decline in articles that present static or linear historical narratives, with a preference for dynamic analyses that consider the complexities and interconnections of scientific developments across different eras.

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