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George Sarton (1884-1956) is considered by some to be the "father" of the history of science
History of science

Science is a body of empirical knowledge, theory, and Procedural knowledge knowledge about the Nature, produced by a global community of researchers making use of scientific methods, which emphasize the observation, experimentation and scientific explanation of real world phenomenon....
, having established the history of science as a discipline in its own right. His Introduction to the History of Science is a mammoth three-volume, 4,236-page work which reviews and catalogs the scientific and cultural contributions of every civilization from antiquity through the fourteenth century. He was the author of 15 other books and over 300 articles on this subject.

ge Alfred Leon Sarton was born in Ghent on August 31, 1884: he received his PhD in mathematics
Mathematics

Mathematics is the study of quantity, structure, space, change, and related topics of pattern and form. Mathematicians seek out patterns whether found in numbers, space, natural science, computers, imaginary abstractions, or elsewhere....
 at the University of Ghent in 1911.






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George Sarton (1884-1956) is considered by some to be the "father" of the history of science
History of science

Science is a body of empirical knowledge, theory, and Procedural knowledge knowledge about the Nature, produced by a global community of researchers making use of scientific methods, which emphasize the observation, experimentation and scientific explanation of real world phenomenon....
, having established the history of science as a discipline in its own right. His Introduction to the History of Science is a mammoth three-volume, 4,236-page work which reviews and catalogs the scientific and cultural contributions of every civilization from antiquity through the fourteenth century. He was the author of 15 other books and over 300 articles on this subject.

Sarton's life and work

George Alfred Leon Sarton was born in Ghent on August 31, 1884: he received his PhD in mathematics
Mathematics

Mathematics is the study of quantity, structure, space, change, and related topics of pattern and form. Mathematicians seek out patterns whether found in numbers, space, natural science, computers, imaginary abstractions, or elsewhere....
 at the University of Ghent in 1911. Though he emigrated to England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
 after World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
 broke out, he came to the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 in 1915, where he would live for the rest of his life. He worked for the Carnegie Foundation for International Peace and lectured at Harvard, 1915-18. He became a lecturer at Harvard University
Harvard University

Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States, and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1636 by the colonial Massachusetts legislature, Harvard is the Colonial Colleges institution of higher learning in the United States....
 in 1920 and a professor of the history of science
History of science

Science is a body of empirical knowledge, theory, and Procedural knowledge knowledge about the Nature, produced by a global community of researchers making use of scientific methods, which emphasize the observation, experimentation and scientific explanation of real world phenomenon....
 from 1940-1951.

Sarton intended to complete an exhaustive nine volume history of science -— which, during the preparation of the second volume, induced him to learn Arabic and travel around the Middle East
Middle East

File:GreaterMiddleEast1.pngThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, western Asia, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East....
 inspecting original manuscripts of Islamic scientists-—but at the time of his death only the first three volumes had been completed. (I. From Homer to Omar Khayyam.--II. From Rabbi Ben Ezra to Roger Bacon, pt. 1-2.--III. Science and learning in the fourteenth century, pt. 1-2. 1927-48.) Jurj Sartun is the romanized Arabic form of his name.

History of Science Society

In honor of Sarton's achievements, the History of Science Society
History of Science Society

The History of Science Society is the primary professional society for the academic study of the history of science and technology. It was founded in 1924 by George Sarton and Lawrence Joseph Henderson, primarily to support the publication of Isis , a journal of the history of science Sarton had started in 1912....
 created the award known as the George Sarton Medal
George Sarton Medal

The George Sarton Medal, an award of the History of Science Society, has been awarded annually since 1955. It is awarded to a historian of science selected from the international scholarly community for a lifetime of scholarly achievement....
. It is the most prestigious award of the History of Science Society
History of Science Society

The History of Science Society is the primary professional society for the academic study of the history of science and technology. It was founded in 1924 by George Sarton and Lawrence Joseph Henderson, primarily to support the publication of Isis , a journal of the history of science Sarton had started in 1912....
. It has been awarded annually since 1955 to an outstanding historian of science selected from the international scholarly community. The medal honors a scholar for lifetime scholarly achievement. Sarton was the founder of this society and of the serial publications Isis and Osiris which it publishes.

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