WikipediaExtracts:In situ
Extracted from Wikipedia --
In situ is a Latin phrase meaning 'in place' or 'on site', derived from in ('in') and situ (ablative of situs, lit. 'place'). The term refers to studying or working with something in its natural or original location rather than moving it elsewhere. This approach preserves environmental factors and relationships that might be lost when materials or specimens are relocated to controlled settings. In comparison, ex situ methods involve removing materials or specimens for study, preservation, or modification under controlled conditions, often at the expense of their original context. The earliest recorded use of in situ in English dates back to the mid-17th century. Its appearance in scientific literature grew from the late 19th century onward, beginning in medicine and engineering and later spreading to a wide range of disciplines.
The natural sciences typically use in situ methods to study phenomena in their original context. In geology, field studies of soil composition and rock formations may provide direct insights into Earth's processes. Biologists observe organisms in their natural habitats to understand behaviors and ecological interactions that cannot be reproduced in a laboratory. In chemistry and experimental physics, in situ techniques make it possible to watch substances and reactions as they occur, capturing transient phenomena in real time.
The scope of these methodologies extends into applied sciences and the humanities. In aerospace engineering, in situ inspections and monitoring systems evaluate performance without interrupting operations. Environmental scientists use ecosystem monitoring in the field to gather reliable data with minimal disturbance. In medicine, especially oncology, carcinoma in situ describes early-stage cancers that remain localized at their site of origin. Space exploration relies on in situ methods to conduct direct observational studies and data collection on celestial bodies, avoiding the challenges of sample-return missions. In archaeology, in situ often refers to artifacts and features documented in their original depositional context, where recording spatial and stratigraphic relationships preserves information about past human activities. In art, in situ refers to works created or displayed in dialogue with their surroundings: site-specific projects, such as environmental sculptures or architectural installations, are conceived for particular locations.
