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Institutional echoes: the Laboratório Químico Municipal do Porto (1884-1907) as a model for the dynamics of scientific institutionalization

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  • José Ferraz-Caetano
José Ferraz-Caetano
LAQV-REQUIMTE - Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/Substantia-2753

Published 2024-10-14

Keywords

  • Institutionalization Theory,
  • Scientific Institutions,
  • Public Policy,
  • Laboratório Químico Municipal do Porto,
  • Science-based legislation

How to Cite

Ferraz-Caetano, J. (2024). Institutional echoes: the Laboratório Químico Municipal do Porto (1884-1907) as a model for the dynamics of scientific institutionalization. Substantia. https://doi.org/10.36253/Substantia-2753

Copyright (c) 2024 José Ferraz-Caetano

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

This article explores the institutionalization process of scientific organizations, with a focus on the case-study of the Laboratório Químico Municipal do Porto (LQMP). Within the context of Institutionalization Theory (IT) and framed by the history of chemistry, the LQMP’s lifecycle is examined to propose a new model for the institutionalization of scientific entities. The article reveals the dynamic interplay between historical developments in chemical science, micro-level scientific practices and macro-level societal changes, offering a comprehensive understanding of how scientific institutions influence public policy and societal norms. Through the lens of IT, the article provides a nuanced exploration of the LQMP’s inception, development, and closure, shedding light on the broader implications of scientific institutionalization. This research addresses a gap in LQMP’s institutional understanding as a historical peripheral landmark in the emergence of science-based legislation. Its findings contribute to the theoretical discourse on the institutionalization of scientific practices, with implications for policy formulation on public health and food regulation.

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