In the first decade of the Cold War, scientific dialogue between the United States and the Soviet Union was reduced to occasional contacts at conferences. As scientific practices became more collaborative and global, two of the leading academic communities barely enjoyed any communication.
The situation called for changes for several reasons. International scientific societies were gaining weight in the global community, and the US and the USSR sought representation in them. Competition between Western and Eastern Bloc scientists and recognition of recent accomplishments were a matter of national pride as well as a facet of the Cold War rivalry. Establishing a bilateral diplomatic relationship implied opening a channel of scientific communication in the name of peaceful coexistence. Competing, concealing, and sharing information went hand in hand.
As the program continued, it was less and less controlled by political forces or guided by diplomatic motivations. It was increasingly shaped by research initiatives from within the academic community, focusing on doing science together. US-USSR exchanges were fueled by subversive scientific grassroots action, defusing the Cold War tension in a manner specific to science as a social institution.
This talk will explore the dynamics of US-USSR scientific exchanges in the 1950s – 1980s, as they were shaped by Cold War politics, international science, bureaucratic challenges, security issues, and cultural differences. It will also demonstrate the informal and individual side of scientific exchanges, from professional interests to opportunities for personal contacts.
