Abstract:

Science is always subject to change, is alive, and the history of science reveals the process of its construction. Some questions about scientific theories and "Scientific Revolution" were posed, for example, why scientific theories that were accepted immediatly and held for centuries as a real then were displaced by others?

Here we present a multidisciplinary course, an adult education course open to the general public. The course was delivered during a week in July, in the Historic Building of University of Barcelona. The completion of this course gave some ECTS credits or free-elective credits for university students but also capitalize anyone interested in science and history.

This course presents several points of view about this scientific revolution: from the discovery of fire to nowadays through the fields of chemistry, engineering, physics, biomedicine and, finally, the role of women in science were studied.

Scientists, historians and teachers who conducted lectures allowed a final discussion in which all students participated and it was very rewarding. The most important ideas which were discussed:

The History of Chemistry in the University of Barcelona.
Twentieth century. New biomedical disciplines and the New Order.
Biotechnology, genomics and how the scientific information is given to the society.
Evolution of Laboratory Equipment and evolution of chemistry.
Why revolutions in chemistry were much later than in other scientific revolutions?
Engineering practice in engineering science: the case of industrial engineering in the nineteenth century.
Atoms against Zeus. Epicurus and Lucretius's poem.
Atomism and Thermodynamics. An unlikely marriage.
The interpretation of chemical change at the turn of the century: A subversion of endeavor in chemistry.
The contribution of women in science.

Sir Butterfield said “We cannot construct a respectable history of Europe ... without the history of science”. This is the answer, studying the history of science, studying the history of chemistry is the only way to increase society’s interest in the history of chemistry.

Keywords:

History of Chemistry, society, summer course.