Books by Thomas Söderqvist

This biography probes the unusual mind, the dramatic life, and the outstanding scientific work of Danish-born immunologist Niels Jerne (1911–1994). Jerne’s Nobel Prize-winning achievements in the field of immunology place him in the pantheon of great twentieth-century biomedical theorists, yet his life is perhaps even more interesting than his science. Science as Autobiography tells Jerne’s story, weaving together a narrative of his life experiences, emotional life, and extraordinarily creative scientific work.A legendary figure who preferred an afternoon of conversation in a Paris wine bar to work in the laboratory, Jerne was renowned for his unparalleled powers of concentration and analytical keenness as well as his dissonant personal life. The book explores Jerne the man and scientist, making the fascinating argument that his life experience and view of himself became a metaphorical resource for the construction of his theories. The book also probes the moral issues that surrounded Jerne’s choice to sacrifice his family in favor of scientific goals and the pursuit of excellence.

Borrowing approaches and methods from cultural studies and the history, philosophy and sociology of science, this work covers a range of subjects, periods and locations. It charts the reoccurring conceptual problems and devices that have influenced scientific biographies. It provides an overview of the history of the genre.

Den danske videnskabs guldalder. Således betegnes perioden 1880-1950 i denne bog. Og med god ret. Ikke alene er tiden kendetegnet ved et stort antal usædvanlige begavelser, som fx Niels Bohr, August Krogh, Louis Hjelmslev, Harald Høffding og Jørgen Jørgensenen, men også ved en sjælden evne til dialog og syntese videnskaberne imellem - foruden en hel del opmærksomhed fra udlandet.  Ved at analysere samspillet imellem København og dets universitetet, samt videnskaberne indbyrdes, afdækker forfatterne bag denne antologi hermed et forsømt kapitel af Københavns historie, samtidig med de skriver et nyt af den danske videnskabshistorie. Antologien er dog ikke en afsluttet historie, men er i høj grad ment som en invitation til et nyt forskningsområde.