The Scientific 'Centrality' of a 'Peripheral' Laboratory: The University of Coimbra Experimental Phonetics Laboratory (1936-72)

The aim of this paper is to provide a contribution to the historiographic agenda regarding the idea of the circulation of knowledge, the Global History of Knowledge and the debate surrounding scientific 'centres' and 'peripheries' (1, 2). We examine the University of Coimbra Laboratory of Experimental Phonetics (1936-72), traditionally regarded as ‘peripheral’ space, but which nevertheless attracted scientists from all over Europe, the USA, Brazil and Africa seeking specialist training. This phenomenon contributed to the development of teaching and research at other 'peripheral' laboratory spaces (for example, the University of Bahia) and at 'central' scientific institutions (for example, Harvard University). With the growing trend in historiography for the recognition of 'invisible technicians' (3) and 'outsiders' (4) in the production and circulation of knowledge, there is a need for surveying the work of this Portuguese laboratory, whose director, Armando de Lacerda, created new research tools in the field of Experimental Phonetics which were appropriated by institutions and scientists on both sides of the Atlantic. 1) James A. Secord, 'Knowledge in Transit', Isis (2004) 95, pp. 654-672. 2) Mark Thurner, ‘Historical Theory Through a Peruvian Looking Glass’, History and Theory (2015) 53, pp. 27-45. 3) Steven Shapin, 'The Invisible Technician', American Scientist (1989) 77, pp. 554-563. 4) Richard Drayton and David Motadel, ‘Discussion: the futures of global history’, Journal of Global History (2018) 13, pp. 1-21.