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Introduction: The Laboratory of Nature – Science in the Mountains

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2009

Charlotte Bigg ,
David Aubin  and
Philipp Felsch
Charlotte Bigg
Affiliation:
Centre Alexandre KoyréCentre National de la Recherche Scientifique
David Aubin
Affiliation:
Université Pierre et Marie CurieInstitut de mathématiques de Jussieu
Philipp Felsch
Affiliation:
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich
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Extract

“Today I made the ascent of the highest mountain in this region, which for good reasons is called Ventosum, guided only by the desire to see the extraordinary altitude of the place” (Petrarque [1336] 1880, 6–7). Petrarch's ascent of the Mont Ventoux in 1336, or rather his account of it, established the mountain as a distinctive place for experiencing and understanding nature and self. Since then, the mountain has been sought out in increasing numbers by those pursuing spiritual elevation, bodily exertion, and/or scientific investigation. To this day, a pilgrimage church, several hotels, and an observatory are characteristically perched atop Mont Ventoux. And it is famous among cyclists as a legendarily difficult étape of the Tour de France.

Type
Introduction
Information
Science in Context , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , September 2009 , pp. 311 - 321
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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References

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