Creating a Cosmic Discipline: The Crystallization and Consolidation of Exobiology, 1957–1973 [Book Review]

Journal of the History of Biology 37 (1):131 - 180 (2004)
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Abstract

The new discipline of exobiology formed from the intertwining of origin of life research with the search for life or its building blocks on other planets, from 1957-1973. The field was inherently highly interdisciplinary, yet it coalesced very quickly and was responsible in its first twenty years for numerous important contributions to twentieth century life science and planetary sciences such as climatology, the study of mass extinctions, etc. NASA played a very important role in catalyzing the rapid consolidation of exobiology, both through research grants and through sponsored meetings that overcame disciplinary boundaries, bringing together scientists from diverse backgrounds. The presence of a handful of prominent senior scientists such as Joshua Lederberg, Melvin Calvin and Norman Horowitz helped gain credibility for exobiology, in the face of criticism and competition from existing life sciences disciplines. Tensions within the exobiology research community and between NASA-funded science and the academic research community are explored, as are such milestones of discipline formation as journals and professional societies

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James Strick
Franklin and Marshall College

References found in this work

The Spontaneous Generation Controversy from Descartes to Oparin.John Farley - 1979 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 30 (1):93-96.
Naturalist.Edward O. Wilson - 1996 - Journal of the History of Biology 29 (1):145-147.
The Living Universe: Nasa and the Development of Astrobiology.Steven J. Dick & James E. Strick - 2005 - Journal of the History of Biology 38 (2):386-387.

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