History of Science in Russia: The IIET in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Institute for the History of Science and Technology (in transliterated Russian Institut Istorii Estestavoznaniya I Tekhniki, or IIET in abbreviation) in Moscow, along with its branch in St. Petersburg, is the largest research centre for history of science and technology in Russia. Its story encompasses a period of great change for Russia and as such includes tales of infighting and intrigue as well as many instances of academic achievement. This paper will focus on two peculiar characteristics of the institute's story in order to clarify the typical political contexts in which it had to operate and the way it succeeded to adapt itself to the varying situations. The first is the 2012 celebration of its 80th anniversary, which took place only 4 years after the institute had celebrated its 55th anniversary. Why did the different celebrators apparently have a different history in mind? Secondly, on several occasions the institute employed people for political rather than academic reasons: for these people the institute was a good, interesting or inconspicuous place to work during that time. This policy served the institute well on the whole. Even though in different political constellations the institute had to produce scholarship with different aims - sometimes the output had to contribute to the glory of the nation, in other times to analyse the role of science in a socialist society - the IIET produced excellent research. Today, once again, the institute stands on the threshold of change as it faces new threats to its existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]