Re: Rashevsky's works

[Tara Abraham <***>]

Dear Tim and list members,

Here is the abstract for my forthcoming article:

Nicolas Rashevsky?s Mathematical Biophysics

Tara H. Abraham
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Abstract
This paper explores the work of Nicolas Rashevsky (1899-1972), a Russian émigré 
theoretical physicist who developed a program in ?mathematical biophysics? at the 
University of Chicago during the 1930s.  Stressing the complexity of many biological 
phenomena, Rashevsky argued that the methods of theoretical physics?namely 
mathematics?were needed to ?simplify? complex biological processes such as cell division 
and nerve conduction.  A maverick of sorts, Rashevsky was a conspicuous figure in the 
biological community during the 1930s and early 1940s: he participated in several Cold 
Spring Harbor symposia, and received several years of funding from the Rockefeller 
Foundation.  However, in contrast to many other physicists who moved into biology, 
Rashevsky?s work was almost entirely theoretical, and he eventually faced some resistance 
to his mathematical methods.  Through an examination of the conceptual, institutional, 
and scientific context of Rashevsky?s work, this paper seeks to understand some of the 
reasons behind this resistance.  

Keywords
Mathematical biology, neurophysiology, Nicolas Rashevsky, physiology, Rockefeller 
Foundation, theory, University of Chicago, Warren Weaver.


On Donnerstag, 22. Januar 2004 16:56 Uhr, Tim Gwinn <***> wrote:
>Thanks, Tara :) I will try tracking them down.
>
>Can you give us a sneak preview of your article? Maybe the
>abstract for it?
>
>Regards,
>Tim
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: ROSEN Forum [mailto:*** Behalf Of Tara
>> Abraham
>> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 9:38 AM
>> To: ***
>> Subject: Re: Rashevsky's works
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Rashevsky had three children, who are all in their early 80s by now:
>>
>> 1) Emilie Rashevsky Strand  (husband Kaj Strand)
>> 2) Nina (now Mrs. C.O. Carlsen)
>> 3) Nadejda (Mrs. M.S. Pittman jr.)
>>
>> I am not aware of the status of rights to his "works".
>>
>> Incidentally, I have recently completed an article, "Nicholas
>> Rashevsky's mathematical biophysics", which is forthcoming in the
>> Journal of the History of Biology.
>>
>> best,
>> Tara
>>
>> On Donnerstag, 22. Januar 2004 1:59 Uhr, Tim Gwinn
>> <***> wrote:
>> >
>> >Does anyone here know the status of the rights to Nicolas
>> >Rashevsky's works? Did he have any family that might be in that
>> >position?
>> >
>> >Tim
>> >
>> >
>> --
>> Tara H. Abraham
>> Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte
>> Wilhelmstraße 44
>> 10117 Berlin
>> Tel.: +49-030-22 66 7-169
>> Fax:  +49-030-22 66 7-299
>