This encyclopedia is an overview of the history of science in America from colonial times to the present. Organized alphabetically within scientific discipline, the set is divided into fourteen sections that include overview essays tracing the historical development of the specific discipline in a cultural and social context; A-to-Z entries on people, institutions, events, developments, and significant concepts; documents highlighting the development of the discipline; and a chronology detailing the historic milestones. Extensive cross-references, a topic finder, bibliographic citations, and biographical and subject indexes in each volume round out this work.