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Theories of the Earth as Seen from Below

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International Science and National Scientific Identity

Part of the book series: Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science ((AUST,volume 9))

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Abstract

It is a commonplace in geologists’ historical accounts that scientists in the southern hemisphere were much earlier in their acceptance of the idea of continental drift than their northern hemisphere counterparts. The explanation offered is captured in a pencilled scrawl by an anonymous wit on the flyleaf of a 1972 collection of papers by Australian earth scientists found in the library of the United States Geological Survey: ‘Most of Earth’s bigger scars, sutures and dimples etc. were more visible on her bottom, and the people down under were quicker to see them’.

I gratefully acknowledge comments on an earlier draft received from D.F. Branagan, S.W. Carey, R.W. Home, J. Sapp and T.G. Valiance. I appreciate the cooperation of those many individuals cited in the notes who shared with me their recollections and papers and of W. Glen who permitted use of some interview materials. This research was supported by ARC grant А58716008 and the Research Fund of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Melbourne.

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Notes

  1. H.E. Le Grand, ‘Specialties, Problems and Localism: The Reception of Continental Drift in Australia, 1920–1940’, Earth Sciences History, 5(1986), 84–95; H.E. Le Grand, Drifting Continents and Shifting Theories (Cambridge, 1988).

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  59. Ibid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Melbourne, Australia

    H. E. Le Grand

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  1. H. E. Le Grand
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Melbourne, Australia

    R. W. Home

  2. University of Minnesota, USA

    Sally Gregory Hohlstedt

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Le Grand, H.E. (1991). Theories of the Earth as Seen from Below. In: Home, R.W., Hohlstedt, S.G. (eds) International Science and National Scientific Identity. Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3786-7_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3786-7_10

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