Chinese Studies in the History of Science and Technology

As an important issue in patriotic education, the history of science and technology was highly valued by the government in the early years of the People's Republic of China. In 1957, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) founded the Research Department on the Chinese History of Natural Sciences, marking the institutionalization of the discipline of S&T history and the professionalization of S&T history studies. Scholars initiated studies on disciplinary history and thematic history on the basis of collation of historical materials. Since 1978, the discipline has been developing fast. The Chinese Society of the History of Science and Technology and research units in universities were established one after another and some academic journals came into being, accelerating academic communication and internationalization of the research. In this period, studies on S&T history were expanded from traditional Chinese to modern history, and from Chinese to world history, obtaining a great number of important achievements. In recent years, the discipline of S&T history in Chinese universities is being adjusted, which brings both opportunities and challenges as well.