Chapter Earth–Knowledge

Overview & Synopsis

Using a transdisciplinary approach, this book examines how scientific understanding of the Earth has been created, transformed, and shared across time - combining perspectives from the history of science, sociology of knowledge, and cultural studies to explore the evolution of Earth sciences. Focusing on the practices, actors, and socio-cultural contexts that have shaped knowledge production, this volume offers fresh methodological insights and highlights the contributions of scientists, local experts, and non-specialist collaborators. Case studies range from Johann Reinhold Forster’s eighteenth-century mineralogical research to Cold War impact geology and interdisciplinary developments in ice core paleoclimatology. Targeted at scholars, students, and general readers, this book provides an innovative lens for understanding the historical dimensions of Earth sciences, bridging disciplinary boundaries and uncovering new perspectives on the production and exchange of knowledge.