The International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science (IUHPS) was created in 1956 by the federation of the International Union of History of Science, which was founded in 1947, and the International Union of Philosophy of Science, founded in 1949. The two federating bodies became two Divisions of the Union, the Division of History of Science (DHS) and the Division of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science (DLMPS). Each division organizes its own international congress once every four years. The DHS's last congress took place in Mexico City in 2001; the DLMPS's in Segovia in 2003.

The International Union of History and Philosophy of Science is one of 26 scientific unions belonging to the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). As the world's leading non-governmental organization in the field of science, ICSU promotes research in innovative fields, publications, and other initiatives designed to facilitate international exchanges and understanding. Since 2001 the DHS is also a member of the International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Sciences (CIPSH) which in its specific fields has a similar role in international scientific life to that of the ICSU. Both are adviser international organisations of UNESCO.

The aims of IUHPS are to establish and promote international contacts among historians and philosophers of science and scientists who are interested in the history and foundational problems of their discipline; to collect documents useful for the development of history and philosophy of science; to encourage and sustain research and study of important problems in these fields; and to organize and support international conferences, symposia and other forms of scientific exchange.

At present 49 National Committees, 13 Historical Commissions and 3 Scientific Sections adhere to DHS. The DHS also has five Joint Commissions with other Unions and with the DLMPS.

For more information visit the web page: http://ppp.unipv.it/dhs/

IUHPS/DHS Board members:

The last General Assembly of the Division of the History of Science took place during its 21st Congress, which was held in Mexico from 8 to 14 July 2001. The next will be in Beijing during the 22nd Congress, 24-30 July 2005.