Finding Matilda: deconstructing women’s invisibility in Finding New Zealand’s Scientific Heritage

Abstract

ABSTRACTFormal narratives of New Zealand science have largely focused on the development of science infrastructure in New Zealand since the appointment of James Hector to head the New Zealand Geological Survey in 1865. This short communication uses the discourses of the 2015 conference, Finding New Zealand’s Scientific Heritage to explore the impact of institutional history, and the high number of participants (for example, retired scientists), on New Zealand historiography of science. I suggest this approach has resulted in the absenting or camouflaging of the contribution of women. The short communication then explores approaches that might mitigate against these effects, suggesting ‘starting thought from women's lives’ (Harding S. 1991. Whose science? Whose knowledge? Thinking from women’s lives. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, p. 150) as a primary mode for novel revisions of history of science in New Zealand.