THE NEEDHAM RESEARCH INSTITUTE, which houses the East Asian History of Science Library, is situated in west Cambridge five minutes' walk from the Cambridge University Library, in the grounds of Robinson College. It is the home of the Science and Civilisation in China project, and welcomes researchers from all over the world with an interest in the history of science, technology and medicine in East Asia.
History
OVER HALF A CENTURY AGO, Dr. Joseph Needham embarked on a long-term
project to investigate the scientific and technical contribution that
the Chinese people have made to human culture. This grew into the
Science and Civilisation in China project, which to date has resulted
in twenty-four substantial published works written by Joseph Needham
and his collaborators. Further parts are in preparation. The project
has been characterised as "perhaps the greatest single act of
historical synthesis and intercultural communication ever
attempted...". In the course of this research Joseph Needham began to
assemble a unique collection of Chinese, Japanese and Western language
materials. The collection's original home was in Gonville and Caius
College, where Dr. Needham was Master until his retirement in 1976. Its
subsequent growth dictated a succession of moves until it finally
reached its present purpose-built home which was completed in 1991.
The Present
THE INSTITUTE AND ITS LIBRARY offer scholars facilities for research and writing unrivalled by any other academic institution in its field. The library now holds about 30,000 titles, including a number of important collectanes, and about 20,000 offprints. The library subscribes to a wide selection of journals, many of which are Chinese publications rarely available elsewhere in Europe. The process of electronic cataloguing of monograph and serial holdings is completed, enabling scholars in all parts of the world to conduct remote searches. The collection continues to grow steadily, allowing it to maintain its status as a world leader in its field. Whether this continues will depend on the continued generosity of benefactors.
THE INSTITUTE PROVIDES its visitors with spacious and peaceful surroundings and a lively intellectual environment. There is ample working space for readers, and long-stay visitors are allocated a shared office. Scholars working in the Institute typically include collaborators on the Science and Civilisation in China project, established academics on sabbatical, doctoral and post-doctoral researchers on one-year fellowships, and other shorter term visitors from around the world. In addition there is a constant stream of academics from the wider Cambridge environment. One of the ways in which the Institute exploits the opportunities provided by its unique role as a meeting place is its regular programme of seminars held weekly throughout the academic year. From time to time the Institute hosts other meetings, ranging from small workshops to full-scale international conferences.
THE
ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY for the management of the Institute rests with
the Trustees of the Needham Research Institute , which is a registered
charity (previously operating under the title of the East Asian History
of Science Trust). The Trust acts through a full-time salaried
Director, Professor Christopher Cullen,who took up his post in October
2003. He is supported by a full-time Administrator, Ms. Susan Bennett,
a part-time Bursar, Brigadier Tim Thompson, and a full-time Librarian,
John Moffett.
The Future
THE INSTITUTE AND ITS LIBRARY owe their establishment and growth to the generous support of many private and institutional donors. Principal amongst these over the long term have been the then East Asian History of Science Trust's sister bodies in Hong Kong (East Asian History of Science Foundation) and New York (East Asian History of Science Inc.). More recently a substantial donation from the Chinese Civilisation Educational Trust in Hong Kong (chaired by Dr. Quo-Wei Lee) has funded the new full-time Directorship. The Institute has now reached a stage where it is possible to plan confidently for a long-term future which will nurture and develop its special role as a centre of scholarship. To do this effectively requires further strengthening of the Institute’s endowment so that its core functions can be guaranteed without recourse to short-term outside funding. These core functions include the operation of the library, for which the provision of adequate and regular financial support for the purchase of books and for staffing costs is urgently required. In addition, the Institute needs funds to enable it to undertake independent research projects, and also to provide adequate accommodation and other assistance for a constantly increasing flow of visitors from all over the world.
|
|