Véronique Gillier

Please tell us about your research project.
I am a second-year Master's student working on the history of astrophysics in France between 1945 and the 1990's. It's part of a history of the institutionalisation of science, questioning the notions of discipline and profession in the academic world. In a post-war and then Cold War context, it examines the development of Big Science, of politics of science, and the internationalisation of scientific practices, but also the questions of specialisation and of the introduction of new technologies (such as computing). This work is based on various paper archives (from observatories, the Paris Faculty of Science, the CNRS, individual collections, etc) and on oral records of scientists or science administrators of the time.

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange program?
I came to Oxford thanks to a partnership between my home institution, the ENS de Lyon, and the MFO. I'm here for three months (Trinity term) to fulfil my master's thesis, designed to be a form of introduction to a PhD thesis beginning next September. I chose Oxford and the MFO because of the great activity developing here in the history of science (see the Centre for the History of Science, Medicine and Technology). Beyond this specific interest, it also allows me to benefit from the stimulating environment of the MFO and of the University of Oxford (libraries, scientific and cultural events, people, etc).

First impressions of Oxford/the University?
Oxford is a wonderful city, both very modern and very historical. It seems like an open-air museum, which is also a lively intellectual centre and a very pleasant human-size town. It's a unique and welcoming place to study and I feel truly privileged to be able to spend those three months here.