The Lone Star History of Science Group is pretty much what it sounds like—a loose-knit and very informal organization of historians of science, technology, the environment, and medicine from around the state of Texas. It was founded in Austin in March 1988 and around bluebonnet time in March or April of every year since then (apart from the Covid-19 years of 2020, 2021, and 2022), the group has gathered in one or another Texas city (usually Austin, Houston, or College Station) to hear a talk, enjoy dinner together, and get to know each other a little better. The longevity of the Lone Star Group probably owes a lot to its simplicity: on its founding, its members agreed that the "organization" would have no bylaws, officers, or dues, and it still gets along very well without them.
Our 2025 meeting was held in Austin on Friday, April 18th. Prof. Elizabeth Bishop, formerly of Texas State University in San Marcos and now the dean of the College of International Studies at the American University of Iraq–Baghdad, spoke on "'Atoms for Peace' in Iraq," detailing American efforts in the 1950s to promote the use of radioisotopes and other products of nuclear technology and how these were taken up Iraq amid the political upheavals of the 1956 Suez Crisis and the 1958 coup that overthrew King Faisal II. After some lively discussion, the group made its way to the Clay Pit Indian restaurant for a delicious dinner. Scottie Buehler of Sam Houston State University graciously volunteered to host the 2026 meeting in Huntsville, where the group looks forward to the prospect of dining at the Potato Shack.
For a list of past meetings, with the date, city, site, speaker, topic, and where we went to dinner, click on the "Past Meetings" tab above. Most of the dates also include a link to the account of the meeting published in the History of Science Society Newsletter, often with a photo of the assembled group. We're also gradually adding other photos, which you can find by clicking the "Photographs" tab above.
Anyone wishing to be added to the e-mail list for the Lone Star Group (and that's all it takes to become a member in good standing) should contact Bruce Hunt at the University of Texas: bjhunt@austin.utexas.edu.