Stranger Fruit

Scientists, Philosophers and Historians playing nice together

Posted by John Lynch on December 1, 2007
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In his discussion of West’s recent talk in Minnesota, PZ notes:

I am extremely impressed with the fact that the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota has a historian and philosopher of science on their faculty — more biology departments ought to make those kinds of strategic alliances to broaden and deepen their discipline.

I wholeheartedly agree. Here at Arizona State, the School of Life Sciences is the home for not only the Center for Biology & Society, but also the History and Philosophy of Science Program. We also have recently started a graduate program in Human and Social Dimensions in Science & Technology. Central to all of this has been getting scientists talking to – and collaborating with – historians and philosophers. It’s all very exciting.

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Comments

  1. #1 John Dupuis
    December 1, 2007

    At my institution, York University in Toronto, the Science & Technology Studies department is newly housed within the Faculty of Science & Engineering. So far everyone seems to be getting along very well.

    And I’m very happy to be the librarian that supports the STS program (as well as several science & engineering programs).

  2. #2 Roberta Millstein
    December 2, 2007

    If I recall correctly (as an alum of the U of Mn), the department of History of Science and Technology has a policy that all faculty in the department must also be members of a science department (so, the historians of physics are also members of the physics department, etc.). So, yes, kudos to EEB at the U of Mn, but also to the HST Dept. (or, I guess it is now HSTM).

  3. #3 SabrinaW
    December 5, 2007

    I was so excited when I found the HSD S&T program, and I’m applying to it this winter! I’ve been trying to find interdisciplinary programs, and yours looks the best out of all the ones I’ve seen. I’m especially impressed by how many faculty are on the list – truly a collaborative endeavor. I hope to have the opportunity to learn from all of you next year.