Preface (Roshdi Rashed).- Introduction (María de la Paz Ramos-Lara & Luis Carlos Arboleda).- Part I: France and Spain relations in the institutionalization of the History of Science in Latin America.- Chapter 1. «Science and Empires» (Paris - April 1990). A significant moment in the history of Latin American science (Martha Cecilia Bustamante De La Ossa).- Chapter 2. Three moments of the Spanish contribution to the History of Science in Latin America: from the 20th century to the present time (Leoncio López-Ocón Cabrera).- Part II: The Latin American Society for the History of Science and Technology (LASHST). Foundation, challenges and perspectives.- Chapter 3. Presence of Juan José Saldaña in the Latin American History of Science as seen from Colombia (1981-2018) (Luis Carlos Arboleda).- Chapter 4. Establishment of the first Latin American community on History of Science (María de la Paz Ramos-Lara & Luis Carlos Arboleda).- Chapter 5. Notes on the contributions of the LASHST to the development of the historiography of science in Latin America (Maria Amélia Mascarenhas Dantes).- Chapter 6. The VI congress of the LASHCT (Buenos Aires) (Carlos D. Galles & Norma Isabel Sánchez).- Chapter 7. LASHST female president and the V Congress in Rio de Janeiro. Silvia Figueirôa Interview (María de la Paz Ramos-Lara).- Part III: Latin American science policy and participation in the international community. Incorporating Latin American history of science into a world wide agenda.- Chapter 8. Geometry, Counter-Disciplinarity, and the Path to Cubism and Relativity in Buenos Aires, 1895-1918 (Lewis R. Pyenson).- Chapter 9. From Latin American to the New Native American Identity: The Importance of History of Science in the Construction of the Who We Are (Regis Cabral).- Chapter 10. Science and Cultural Diversity in Latin American Countries (Olival Freire Junior & Michel Paty).- Chapter 11. Networks of Latin American historians of medicine and public health and their international visibility (Ana María Carrillo).- Chapter 12. The History of Science in Latin America and the international agenda: history, reflection on our themes, local scientific practices and perspectives (Maria Rachel Fróes da Fonseca).- Part IV: The emergence of local History of Science projects, associations, journals, educative and research programs.- Chapter 13. The development of the History of Science as a discipline in Argentina (Carlos Galles & Pablo Lorenzano).- Chapter 14. The Institutionalization of the Social History of Sciences in Brazil (Heloisa Ma. Bertol Domingues).- Chapter 15. The institutionalization of the History of Science and Technology in Mexico (María de la Paz Ramos-Lara).- Chapter 16. The influence of Juan José Saldaña in the development of the Historical and Social Studies of Sciences and Health in Colombia, 1979-2024 (Emilio Quevedo V. & Julieth Nathalia Barrera-Díaz).- Chapter 17. Intellectual collaboration at the early stage of the social and historical studies of science and technology in Venezuela (Hebe Vessuri & Isabelle Sánchez-Rose).- Chapter 18. An approach to the institutionalization of the History of Science in Chile (Zenobio Saldivia M. & Pablo Rojas C.).- Chapter 19. The Development of studies on the History of Sciences, Medicine and Engineering in Peru in the 20th century (Leticia Quiñones, Jorge Lossio & Lizardo Seiner).- Chapter 20. The History of Science and Technology in the Cuban context: Institutionalization and development (Diego de Jesús Alamino Ortega & Yenile Aguilar Rodríguez).- Index.

This book provides a unique analysis of how the History of Science became institutionalized in Latin America during the last two decades of the 20th century. It examines the establishment of the first Latin American community in the History of Science and its connections with the international community and various international institutions, such as the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology / Division of History of Science and Technology (IUHPST/DHST). The authors are the same scholars who have been involved in several activities and strategies to professionalize and institutionalize this field in Latin America.
They explore the impact of Western educational institutions and theoretical and methodological perspectives on the introduction of the History of Science in several Latin American nations. The book examines the two-way movement of European scholars to Latin America and Latin American students mainly to France. At that time, the organization of congresses in France, Spain, the United States, and other European countries encouraged the participation of Latin American historians of science. Notable events include the Science and Empires congress in Paris (1990), the Ciencia, descubrimiento y mundo colonial conference in Madrid (1991), and the International Congresses of History of Science and Technology (ICHST).
The authors refer to seven Latin Americans who signed the Declaration of Bucharest (1981) to promote the history of sciences in their countries. This initiative led to the establishment of the Latin American Society for the History of Science and Technology (LASHST) in 1982, under the leadership of Juan José Saldaña, director of Quipu and Cuadernos de Quipu. With his leadership, existing national societies were reactivated, and new ones were created, up to ten in four years: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Cuba. This effort internationally legitimized Latin American scientific practice, culminating in celebrating the XXI ICHST in Mexico City in 2001. He founded the International Association for Scientific Cultural Diversity (IASCUD) and became the first Latin American to serve as Secretary General of IUHPST/DHS from 2001 to 2005. Through his various actions and activities, Saldaña and the LASHST community were able to promote the institutionalization of the History of Science in Latin America. This book pays a well-deserved tribute to his efforts.