History of Science and Technology in İTU

İTU, along with a deep-rooted history, ranging from “Tershane Hendesehanesi” (Naval Engineering Golden Horn Naval Shipyard) offers crucial pieces of information for researchers and academicians who would like to study in the field of History of Science and Technology. There is a well-structured acquaintanceship between the history and Rare Collection of Mustafa İnan Library, Natural History, Geology, Instruments of Measurement, and History of ITU Museums. 

Especially, Rare Collection, which consists of approximately 6000 books and periodical publications dating back to the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, is a valuable resource for the History of Science and Technology Studies in the Ottoman and Early Republican Era. With such aspect, it is essential for scientists who would like to research the history of engineering, architecture, and architecture education in the Ottoman Empire. 

Since the late 1970s, the initiatives beginning with Kazım Çeçen, for establishing an Institute of Research for History of Science and Technology and then a Center for it, and the exhibitions, international conferences, museum works, and published books within the body of these institutions are noteworthy. However, it is sad that the efforts to establish the Institute of History of Science and Technology were inconclusive. On the other hand, it is undeniable that the History of Science and Technology mass classes for engineering students have provided a cultural perspective and enlarged the inspiration of thought, starting from the 1990s to the present. 

Considering the fact that there are relatively limited programs for the field of the history of science and technology in Türkiye, the Master’s and Doctorate Programmes in History of Science and Technology established in ITU will contribute to the field with the graduated students who have the ability to conduct researches in international standards and having qualified language skills for classical languages besides of foreign languages.

The establishment of these programmes provided a possibility to make the studies in the field of History of Science and Technology with an institutional structure, which is already being carried out in ITU. 

Moreover, the fact that the academic journal named JRHST will publish the academic studies at an international level, is an obvious indicator that  ITU will have a voice in the field.  

With all these pioneer studies evolving to an expertise field and the potential transformed into academic studies, History of Science and Technology Postgraduate Programmes are important indicators for ITU’s present and prospective role in forming and establishing the tradition of the History of Science and Technology not only in ITU but also in the entire academia.

Bilim ve Teknoloji Tarihi Çalışmalarının İTÜ’deki Serencamı: Kişiler, Kurumlar, Programlar, Etkinlikler ve Yayınlar. Tuncay ZORLU, Aytekin ÇÖKELEZ (Eds. Ebubekir CEYLAN, In Osmanlı’dan Cumhuriyet’e: Siyaset, Toplum ve İTÜ). İTÜ Yayınevi, 2023.