Post-WWII Science

Science & Tech – Theoretical and applied science converged during WWII Radar developed by British scientists Jet aircraft developed by Germans Manhattan Project (A-Bomb) developed by US Computer technology begins

Post-WWII Science “Big Science” – Became model for the scientific community after WWII – Highly competitive industry among scientists and nations. – Gov’ts funded projects to combine sophisticated engineering with theoretical science – US & USSR became leaders in big science Science not demobilized in US or USSR after WWII – Space race – Sputnik, 1957, leads to the development of ICBMs – Creation of NASA – 1961 Yuri Gargarin is first person in space

Post-WWII Science “Brain Drain” – Many European scientists leave for US in the 1950s and 1960s. – 4 times as many scientists in Europe in 1975 than – Highly specialized technical scientists work as teams

Post-WWII Science Computers – Transform societies into “haves” and “have nots” based on technical knowledge.