Scientific journal and learned society
Revista científica y sociedad científica (Philosophical Transactions, Journal des sçavans)
- Date
- 1665 · confidence high
- Place
- London (Royal Society, 1660) and Paris (Académie des sciences, 1666)
- Credited to
- Henry Oldenburg (Philosophical Transactions); Denis de Sallo (Journal des sçavans); Royal Society; Colbert
- People
- 👤 Denis de Sallo1626–1669👤 Henry Oldenburg1619–1677👤 Jean-Baptiste Colbert1619–1683
- Field
- Communication
What it is
A periodical publication that disseminates experiments and observations, recording priority of discoveries, alongside societies that collectively verify them. It institutionalised the scientific method and communication among scientists.
The Journal des sçavans (January 1665) preceded the Philosophical Transactions by two months, but the latter was the first journal devoted exclusively to science.
What it led to
- Priority, peer review and public science
- International scientific community (Republic of Letters)
- State science (the Académie, observatories) and academies across Europe
- Priority disputes (Hooke-Huygens, Newton-Leibniz) arbitrated publicly
Built on
- Public postal service1490
- Printed newspaper1605
- Accademia dei Lincei (1603) and Accademia del Cimento (1657)
Made possible
- Peer review
- National academies of science
- Encyclopédie (1751)