Homepage of the History of Physics Group

History of Physics Group

This website contains the archives of the 'History of Physics' Group of the UK 'Institute of Physics (IOP)'. It is maintained by members of the Group. Navigation through the site is by means of the list of topics at the top of each page and by links within the pages.
The main IOP site is at: www.iop.org/activity/groups/subject/hp/
It has some early history of the formation of the Physical Society and the Institute of Physics up until their merger in 1960. The rooms in the Headquarters buiding are named after prominent physicists. Click here. for further details.

The Group was established in 1984.

Its main aims are to secure the written, oral and instrumental record of British physics for posterity and to explore ways in which history can be used more effectively in the understanding, teaching and general communication of physics in all countries. Since the history of physics deals with all aspects of physics the Group also hopes to provide a forum whereby the different and sometimes fragmented disciplines of physics and related subjects may interact fruitfully.

Four major areas of interest have been identified:

oral history and archives
the history of experimentation and instruments
the history of physics ideas
the history of the interactions between physics and society

The Group intends to pursue those aspects of the history of physics which especially require the skills of the physicist and which are of particular interest to the practitioner of physics in any country. To achieve our aims the Group holds at least two half- or one-day meetings each year. These frequently highlight important anniversaries in physics and/or raise the profile of physicists. The Group occasionally sponsors meetings or conferences organised by other bodies. In addition a regular newsletter is issued which contains information on past and future meetings of the Group and related organisations, articles on the history of physics, and Group news. This may also be distributed in electronic form.

Page last updated 24 Nov 2013