Women, stars and science of the south. Female astronomers in Chile at the beginning of the 20th century.

• In Event: Latin American Science, Technology and Society: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Issues 2

Abstract

The historical study on the contribution of women to science and technology has been addressed in recent decades, questioning the role of historians because of their gender bias, excluding the contributions of women in their studies. These have been included only if they were famous influential scientists (Easlea, 1981 Alic, 1986; Harding, 1991; Haraway, 1995). In the case of astronomy, studies on the history of astrophysics in particular have made it possible to know the contribution of women in European and North American observatories (Kistiakowsky, 1979, Rossiter, 1984, Pérez and Kiczkowski, 2010). However, we do not know about South American female astronomers, calculus scientists and astrophysicists, who have been excluded from the local histories of these scientific institutions. This often occurred because their contributions have not been included in institutional reports or scientific publications. Controversies, however, allow us to open the black box of sciences and illuminate invisible practices and actants included in traditional sources (Latour, 1999). This paper analyzes the role played by the women scientists working at the National Astronomical Observatory of Chile and discusses the problems and controversies occurred in that institution under the administration of the German astronomer and professor of the University of Chile, Federico Ristenpart (1908-1913). The proposal is part of the Research grant "Looking at the stars of the south of the world: the National Astronomical Observatory of Chile (1852-1927)" (Fondecyt 1170625). The study is based on the revision of the press during that period and of the documents of the National Administration Archive.

Authors

• Lorena B. Valderrama, Universidad Alberto Hurtado

• Sanhueza Carlos, Universidad de Chile