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On the Rockefeller Foundation's purpose in funding the cyclotron development in1930s

Research Project

Project/Area Number 17500684
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Sociology/History of science and technology
Research InstitutionTakushoku University

Principal Investigator

HINOKAWA Shizue  Takushoku University, Department of Commerce, Professor (90134832)

Project Period (FY) 2005 – 2007
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2007)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,450,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2007: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2005: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
KeywordsRockefeller Foundation / Cyclotron / Radioactive tracer / Experimental biology / Nuclear physics / Warren Weaver / Atomic bomb in America / History of science and technology in 1930s / ニールス・ボーア / 1930年代コペンハーゲン / 1930年代加速器 / カリフォルニア大学放射線研究 / Ernest O.Lawrence
Research Abstract

In the 1930s, the Rockefeller Foundation awarded grants for cyclotron development not only to the University of California at Berkeley, but also to researchers in France, Denmark, and other parts of Europe. This study aims to clarify the Foundation's objectives in providing such support. Research done over the past 3 years has revealed the following :
1.The Rockefeller Foundation gave financial support for cyclotron development in accordance with its own scientific research policy. Starting in 1933, Warren Weaver, Director of the Foundation's Division of Natural Sciences, began promoting the advancement of experimental biology. Experimental biology was defined as "the application of experimental procedures to the study of the organization and reactions of living matter." Weaver was concerned about "how to bring the discipline of chemistry and physics more effectively into biology." The use of radio active indicators (the radioactive tracer method) was considered to be one promising rese … More arch method, and in this connection the cyclotron was spotlighted as a means to produce a wide variety of artificial radioactive isotopes. It was against this backdrop that the Rockefeller Foundation provided support for cyclotron development in the 1930s.
2.The Rockefeller Foundation provided support only on the basis of its own policies. As can be seen in the case of Harvard University, where the Foundation refused support for the development of a cyclotron for nuclear research. In the spring of 1940, however, it awarded a grant of over $1, 000, 000 to Berkeley's project to build a 184-inch cyclotron for the production of mesotrons, which were at the forefront of research on the composition of matter. The Rockefeller Foundation was deeply involved in this big project from the planning stage and provided a grant to get it started. Berkeley's enormous 184-inch electromagnet was incorporated into the United States' atomic bomb development program and used to develop a method of producing the material for the uranium bomb. Less

Report

(4 results)
  • 2007 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2006 Annual Research Report
  • 2005 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (12 results)

All 2007 2006 2005 Other

All Journal Article (5 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 2 results) Presentation (6 results) Remarks (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] 1930年代ハーバード大学におけるサイクロトロン開発過程2007

    • Author(s)
      日野川 静枝
    • Journal Title

      科学史研究 Vol.46,No.244

      Pages: 241-252

    • NAID

      110006531753

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Annual Research Report 2007 Final Research Report Summary
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] The process of Cyclotron Development at Harvard in the 1930s2007

    • Author(s)
      Shizue, Hinokawa
    • Journal Title

      KAGAKUSI KENKYU(Journal of History of Science, Japan) Vol. 46, No. 244

      Pages: 241-252

    • NAID

      110006531753

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] ロックフェラー財団による184インチのサイクロトロン計画への援助決定過程2006

    • Author(s)
      日野川 静枝
    • Journal Title

      科学史研究 Vol.45,No.238

      Pages: 81-91

    • NAID

      110006436241

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] The Rockefeller Foundation's Decision-making Process in Funding the 184-inch Cyclotron2006

    • Author(s)
      Shizue, Hinokawa
    • Journal Title

      KAGAKUSI KENKYU(Journal of History of Science, Japan) Vol. 45, No. 238

      Pages: 81-91

    • NAID

      110006436241

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] ロックフェラー財団による184インチのサイクロトロン計画への援助決定過程2006

    • Author(s)
      日野川静枝
    • Journal Title

      科学史研究 Vol.45,No.238

      Pages: 81-91

    • NAID

      110006436241

    • Related Report
      2006 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 1930年代コペンハーゲンのサイクロトロン開発史2007

    • Author(s)
      日野川 静枝
    • Organizer
      日本科学史学会第54回年回
    • Place of Presentation
      京都産業大学
    • Year and Date
      2007-05-27
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Annual Research Report 2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] Cyclotron Development at Copenhagen in 1930s2007

    • Author(s)
      Shizue, Hinokawa
    • Organizer
      Annual Meeting No.54 of the History of Science Society of Japan
    • Place of Presentation
      Kyoto Industrial University, Kyoto
    • Year and Date
      2007-05-27
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] 1930年代ハーバード大学のサイクロトロン開発過程2006

    • Author(s)
      日野川 静枝
    • Organizer
      日本科学史学会第53回年回
    • Place of Presentation
      東洋大学
    • Year and Date
      2006-05-28
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] Cyclotron Development at the Harvard University in 1930s2006

    • Author(s)
      Shizue, Hinokawa
    • Organizer
      Annual Meeting No.53 of the History of Science Society of Japan
    • Place of Presentation
      Toyo University, Tokyo
    • Year and Date
      2006-05-28
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] ロックフェラー財団による巨大サイクロとトロン計画への援助決定過程2005

    • Author(s)
      日野川 静枝
    • Organizer
      日本科学史学会第52回年回
    • Place of Presentation
      北海道開拓記念館
    • Year and Date
      2005-06-04
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] The Rockefeller Foundation's Decision-making Process in Funding the 184-inch Cyclotron2005

    • Author(s)
      Shizue, Hinokawa
    • Organizer
      Annual Meeting No.52 of the History of Science Society of Japan
    • Place of Presentation
      The pioneer memorial hall of Hokkaido
    • Year and Date
      2005-06-04
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Remarks] 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より

    • URL

      http://archive.rockefeller.edu/publications/resrep/pdf/hinokawa.pdf

    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary

URL: 

Published: 2005-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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