Description (through texts, images, models or samples) played a central role in the patent regimes that emerged in the eighteenth century, first in England, later in the United States and in France. Description ensured that the contract—protection in excha ...
Over the past two decades, a number of digital platforms have been developed with the aim of engaging citizens in scientific research projects. The success of these platforms depends in no small part on their ability to attract and retain participants, tur ...
Qu’elle soit inscrite dans une réflexion sur la « création », l’« invention », la « découverte » ou l’« innovation », la nouveauté participe indéniablement des transformations des sociétés. Mais existe-t-il des processus de production du nouveau propres à ...
Economic interpretations, in particular the lens of the Industrial Revolution, have strongly influenced our understanding of the rise of intellectual property. This article examines the political origins of the 1791 patent law in France, which is usually s ...
Since the late twentieth century, “citizen science” has become an increasingly fashionable label for a growing number of participatory research activities. This paper situates the origins and rise of the term “citizen science” and offers a new framework to ...
This contribution argues that a particular scientific context made summits a place of interest for eighteenth-century travelers. This development is connected to two particular scientific practices. First, the challenges raised by making the barometer into ...