At the beginning of the 18th century there was no science of physics as we recognise it today; by the early years of the nineteenth century, there was. The articles in this volume are concerned with the process by which this came about. They focus, in particular, on the rise of experimental physics and the interactions between experiment, theory and mathematics in the study of electricity and, to a lesser extent, magnetism and physical optics during this period. Along the way, they provide a significant reassessment of Isaac Newton's influence on the science of his successors. A further recurring theme is the process by which ideas were disseminated within the expanding scientific community of the day, and the manner of their reception, often in a form somewhat different from that envisaged by their first inventors, as Professor Home argues took place in the case of Franklin. The social and intellectual context of the 'scientist', indeed, is the specific subject of several essays, dealing not only with England and France, but also offering new insights into the position of science in 18th-century Russia. Au debut du 18e s., la science physique telle que nous l'entendons de nos jours, n'existait pas; des les premieres annees du 19e s., cela n'etait plus le cas. Les articles contenus dans ce volume s'interessent au procede qui a provoque ce changement. Ils s'attachent plus particulierement A la montee de la physique experimentale et A l'interaction entre experience, theorie et mathematiques en ce qui concerne l'etude de l'electricite et, dans une moindre mesure, celle du magnetisme et de l'optique physique durant cette periode. Ce faisant, les etudes fournissent une re-evaluation significative de l'influence d'Isaac Newton sur la science de ses successeurs. Un autre theme est celui du processus par lequel les idees etaient disseminees A l'epoque au sein d'une communaute scientifique en pleine expans

The institutionalization of History and Philosophy of Science as a distinct field of scholarly endeavour began comparatively early - though not always under that name - in the Australasian region. An initial lecturing appointment was made at the University of Melbourne immediately after the Second World War, in 1946, and other appointments followed as the subject underwent an expansion during the 1950s and 1960s similar to that which took place in other parts of the world. Today there are major Departments at the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong, and smaller groups active in many other parts of Australia and in New Zealand. 'Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science' aims to provide a distinctive publication outlet for Australian and New Zealand scholars working in the general area of history, philosophy and social studies of science. Each volume comprises a group of essays on a connected theme, edited by an Australian or a New Zealander with special expertise in that particular area. Papers address general issues, however, rather than local ones; parochial topics are avoided. Further more, though in each volume a majority of the contributors is from Australia or New Zealand, contributions from elsewhere are by no means ruled out. Quite the reverse, in fact - they are actively encouraged wherever appropriate to the balance of the volume in question."

Only in fairly recent years has History and Philosophy of Science been recognized - though not always under that name - as a distinct field of scholarly endeavour. Previously, in the Australasian region as elsewhere, those few individuals working within this broad area of inquiry found their base, both intellectually and socially, where they could. In fact, the institutionali zation of History and Philosophy of Science began comparatively early in Australia. An initial lecturing appointment was made at the University of Melbourne immediately after the Second World War, in 1946, and other appointments followed as the subject underwent an expansion during the 1950s and '60s similar to that which took place in other parts of the world. Today there are major Departments at the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong, and smaller groups active in many other parts of Australia, and in New Zealand."

Only in fairly recent years has History and Philosophy of Science been recognized - though not always under that name - as a distinct field of scholarly endeavour. Previously, in the Australasian region as elsewhere, those few individuals working within this broad area of inquiry found their base, both intellectually and socially, where they could. In fact, the institutionali zation of History and Philosophy of Science began comparatively early in Australia. An initial lecturing appointment was made at the University of Melbourne immediately after the Second World War, in 1946, and other appointments followed as the subject underwent an expansion during the 1950s and '60s similar to that which took place in other parts of the world. Today there are major Departments at the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong, and smaller groups active in many other parts of Australia, and in New Zealand."

Does Distance Tyrannize Science?.- Tyrannies of Distance in British Science.- Dr George Bennett and Sir Richard Owen: A Case Study of the Colonization of Early Australian Science.- A Far Frontier: British Geological Research in Australia during the Nineteenth Century.- A Collaborative Dimension of the European Empires: Australian and French Acclimatization Societies and Intercolonial Scientific Co-operation.- International Exchange in the Natural History Enterprise: Museums in Australia and the United States.- A World-wide Scientific Network and Patronage System: Australian and Other 'Colonial' Fellows of the Royal Society of London.- Ionospheric and Radio Physics in Australian Science since the Early Days.- Theories of the Earth as Seen from Below.- Geographic Isolation and the Origin of Species: The Migrations of Michael White.- Antipodal Fire: Bushfire Research in Australia and America.- Notes on Contributors.

This is the third and final volume of Mueller's selected correspondence. It covers the last two decades of his life--his most productive period from a scientific point of view--including his work as Government Botanist of Victoria; his multifarious contributions to taxonomy, biogeography and economic botany; his engagement with the exploration of inland Australia, New Guinea and Antarctica; his manifold links with international science; and his evolving personal circumstances as one of the leading citizens of his adopted country. This volume contains a substantial historical introduction, and a further extension of the editorial apparatus developed in previous volumes.

Life and Letters of Ferdinand von Mueller comprises three volumes of selected correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller and a new scholarly biography of the noted German-Australian botanist, and first Director of Melbourne's famed Botanic Gardens. A CD-ROM carrying von Mueller's complete surviving correspondence is included in the package. There is a subscription price for the complete edition (4 volumes and searchable CD-ROM) valid until publication of all four volumes.