Joseph Needham’s ‘Motivations for Participation’ and ‘Major Roles’ in the International Scientific Commission on Bacterial Warfare during the Korean War
This paper analyzes the motivations of the British biochemist Joseph Needham for participating in ‘the International Scientific Commission for the Investigation of the Facts Concerning Bacterial Warfare in Korea and China (ISC)’ and his major roles within it during the Korean War. Needham stayed in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korean Society for the History of Medicine
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Uisahak |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.medhist.or.kr/upload/pdf/kjmh-32-3-1005.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797307101091987456 |
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| author | Taewoo KIM |
| author_facet | Taewoo KIM |
| author_sort | Taewoo KIM |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper analyzes the motivations of the British biochemist Joseph Needham for participating in ‘the International Scientific Commission for the Investigation of the Facts Concerning Bacterial Warfare in Korea and China (ISC)’ and his major roles within it during the Korean War. Needham stayed in China for four years starting in 1942 as a scientific counselor and director of the British Scientific Mission in China, which enabled him to interact with many Chinese scientists and politicians. Surprisingly, during this period (1944), Needham conducted an investigation into the Japanese military’s use of bacterial warfare. Through his personal records, Needham repeatedly stated that his experience with bacterial warfare research in 1944 was one of the most important reasons for his participation in ISC activities. In addition, Needham secretly but very actively sought to recruit other investigators within Britain. Needham repeatedly tried to persuade fellow professors at Cambridge University, William Thorpe and Vincent Wigglesworth, to be included in the investigation team. Although Needham had doubts about his own expertise in investigative activities, he actively expressed his desire to become a member of the investigative team through various channels. Primary documents show that he actively and voluntarily led the investigation activities after joining the team in professional discussions, document analysis, and witness interrogations. Needham’s passion and sincerity demonstrated in internal meeting minutes dispel some misunderstandings that the investigation team’s activities were limited to passively approving Chinese data. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:51:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb7617f7b523480fad009797cdd57521 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1225-505X 2093-5609 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:51:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Korean Society for the History of Medicine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Uisahak |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb7617f7b523480fad009797cdd575212024-02-15T04:11:45ZengKorean Society for the History of MedicineUisahak1225-505X2093-56092023-12-013231005104110.13081/kjmh.2023.32.10052452Joseph Needham’s ‘Motivations for Participation’ and ‘Major Roles’ in the International Scientific Commission on Bacterial Warfare during the Korean WarTaewoo KIMThis paper analyzes the motivations of the British biochemist Joseph Needham for participating in ‘the International Scientific Commission for the Investigation of the Facts Concerning Bacterial Warfare in Korea and China (ISC)’ and his major roles within it during the Korean War. Needham stayed in China for four years starting in 1942 as a scientific counselor and director of the British Scientific Mission in China, which enabled him to interact with many Chinese scientists and politicians. Surprisingly, during this period (1944), Needham conducted an investigation into the Japanese military’s use of bacterial warfare. Through his personal records, Needham repeatedly stated that his experience with bacterial warfare research in 1944 was one of the most important reasons for his participation in ISC activities. In addition, Needham secretly but very actively sought to recruit other investigators within Britain. Needham repeatedly tried to persuade fellow professors at Cambridge University, William Thorpe and Vincent Wigglesworth, to be included in the investigation team. Although Needham had doubts about his own expertise in investigative activities, he actively expressed his desire to become a member of the investigative team through various channels. Primary documents show that he actively and voluntarily led the investigation activities after joining the team in professional discussions, document analysis, and witness interrogations. Needham’s passion and sincerity demonstrated in internal meeting minutes dispel some misunderstandings that the investigation team’s activities were limited to passively approving Chinese data.http://www.medhist.or.kr/upload/pdf/kjmh-32-3-1005.pdfjoseph needhamkorean warbacterial warfarebiological warfareinternational scientific commissionworld peace councilmedical entomologybacteriology |
| spellingShingle | Taewoo KIM Joseph Needham’s ‘Motivations for Participation’ and ‘Major Roles’ in the International Scientific Commission on Bacterial Warfare during the Korean War Uisahak joseph needham korean war bacterial warfare biological warfare international scientific commission world peace council medical entomology bacteriology |
| title | Joseph Needham’s ‘Motivations for Participation’ and ‘Major Roles’ in the International Scientific Commission on Bacterial Warfare during the Korean War |
| title_full | Joseph Needham’s ‘Motivations for Participation’ and ‘Major Roles’ in the International Scientific Commission on Bacterial Warfare during the Korean War |
| title_fullStr | Joseph Needham’s ‘Motivations for Participation’ and ‘Major Roles’ in the International Scientific Commission on Bacterial Warfare during the Korean War |
| title_full_unstemmed | Joseph Needham’s ‘Motivations for Participation’ and ‘Major Roles’ in the International Scientific Commission on Bacterial Warfare during the Korean War |
| title_short | Joseph Needham’s ‘Motivations for Participation’ and ‘Major Roles’ in the International Scientific Commission on Bacterial Warfare during the Korean War |
| title_sort | joseph needham s motivations for participation and major roles in the international scientific commission on bacterial warfare during the korean war |
| topic | joseph needham korean war bacterial warfare biological warfare international scientific commission world peace council medical entomology bacteriology |
| url | http://www.medhist.or.kr/upload/pdf/kjmh-32-3-1005.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT taewookim josephneedhamsmotivationsforparticipationandmajorrolesintheinternationalscientificcommissiononbacterialwarfareduringthekoreanwar |