ISHPSSB INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND SOCIAL STUDIES OF BIOLOGY FALL 2004 THIRTIETH ISSUE VOLUME 16, NO. 2
President’s Semi-Annual Report Fall 2004
Gearing Up For Guelph submissions of proposals more reliably. Hopefully, you will Our next meeting will be July 13-17, 2005 at the University of find the OCS format easy to understand and use. If you have Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Since my last report, the Call for questions about submitting paper or panel proposals, please let Papers has begun to generate ideas and proposals for sessions. us know. It is time to decide what you’ll be presenting at our 2005 meeting. A bulletin board for session ideas has been posted at Congratulations http://www.ishpssb.org/phorum/list.php?f=3. There are Our first and very successful off-year workshop was held this already posted ideas for sessions concerning Botany and Plant September in San Francisco. Matt Haber, Grant Yamashita, Sciences and Feminist Philosophy of Biology. In addition to Andrew Hamilton, Patrick Forber, Melinda Fagan, and Vivette sessions being planned by the Program Committee on social Garcia Deister are all to be commended and congratulated for activism, applied biology, and elite and popular biology, I’ve their organizational efforts. Several attendees have remarked heard from several groups planning sessions on a range of on value of this meeting for faculty and graduate students alike. topics. If you have a paper and are looking for related papers Hopefully this will be the first of many successful and to make up a session, or if you have an idea for a session or a rewarding off-year meetings. Please see the article in this issue topic that you would like to hear more about, please take for a full report on the FDISH meeting. advantage of the bulletin board. Forms for submitting session and paper proposals are available at http://www.ishpssb.org/ Call for Sites for 2009 Meeting ocs/submit.php. Please feel free to contact me or Lynn Nyhart Garland Allen and the Site Selection Committee are currently if you have any questions about presenting at the 2005 soliciting inquiries and proposals for sites for the 2009 meeting. The deadline for paper and session proposals is meeting. Our 2007 meeting is set for Exeter, England. Ideally February 15, 2005. we would like the 2009 meeting to be held somewhere in North America, but we are open to any proposal. Guidelines and Our local arrangements chairperson, David Castle, is information about hosting an ISHPSSB meeting are available negotiating final arrangements for the meeting now. Like past at http://www.ishpssb.org/guidelines.html. meetings an opening reception on Wednesday night is planned as well as a Saturday evening banquet. There will be plenty of Call for Submissions for the Grene Prize time to met with old friends, hear great presentations, and The Marjorie Green Prize Committee is currently soliciting sample the local microbreweries. A range of on campus submissions. If you gave a paper as a graduate student in accommodations will be available as well as blocks of rooms continued on next page reserved at local hotels. Details on registration, accommodations, meals, and travel will be posted on the About Guelph 2 Society’s website this winter and will also appear in the Spring Call for Papers, Guelph 2005 3 newsletter. Off-Year Workshop Report 4 Our ever resourceful webmaster, Roberta Millstein, has Announcements: Grene Prize; UC-Davis Job 5 investigated different conference software packages and Planning; MBL Seminar; Notice about Renewals 6 adapted Open Conference Systems software for our website. Propose Sessions for Guelph 7 This software package will allow us to manage electronic ISPHSSB Addresses 8 1 Quinnipiac or Vienna, please consider submitting your paper. Your comments are always welcome. Contact information for For more information, see the Call for Submissions in this Council Members is posted on the ISHPSSB website and newsletter. printed on the back page of this newsletter. I can be reached at Michael R. Dietrich, Department of Biological Sciences, Call for Nominations Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755. Lindley Darden and the Nominations Committee are seeking [email protected] (603) 646-1389. I look nominations for ISHPSSB officers and council members. As a forward to hearing from you! voluntary organization, ISHPSSB relies on the effort and good will of its membership to keep things running. Please send your suggestions and nominations to the Nominations Committee. See the announcement in this newsletter for more information.
Guelph, Ontario, Canada to Welcome ISHPSSB Members
The city of Guelph is a charming, walkable city where one can Within an hour’s drive of Guelph is Toronto enjoy rivers and parks, historic sites, museums and art
Start planning for Guelph 2005
See the enclosed flyer. Make copies and post them at your institution.
Check for updates and newly proposed sessions online at: www.ishpssb.org
2 Call for Papers: ISHPSSB Meeting Guelph July 13-17, 2005 Since its inception, the ISHPSSB has brought together scholars from diverse backgrounds together to discuss issues of mutual interest in an informal, collegial setting. Over the past twenty-odd years, the group has evolved from a small one–the earliest meetings had perhaps 60 participants—to a large one (over 600 participants in Vienna, 2003). As we grow, we face increasing challenges to retaining an informal and experimental approach in our meeting. How can we strengthen the lines of communication among historians, philosophers, social scientists, and biologists, and not fall into the more comfortable scenario of talking to the subset of Ishkabibblers we already know? How can we continue to open conversations that lead to innovative ways of thinking about our common subject, biology, and about our own disciplines?
For the 2005 meeting, we hope to continue our tradition of an informal, experimental approach. We especially seek sessions that work to meet this challenge, through innovative cross-disciplinary content, format, or both. To facilitate bringing together people of different disciplinary and national backgrounds, the Society invites prospective participants to post session ideas and calls for contributions to particular session electronically. Check the ISHPSSB website, http://www.ishpssb.org
Many areas within our broad field are wide open for cross- and interdisciplinary innovation. For the 2005 meeting, we would especially like to encourage sessions in the following areas:
• biology and aesthetics. Sessions might include “purer” or more “basic” aspects of biology? How such issues as the aesthetic considerations implicit in have these relations been different (or similar) across the choice of work that biologists do; aesthetics in the time and space? This is an especially appropriate history and philosophy of concepts of evolutionary area of emphasis for Guelph, a university that mate choice; the place of art in natural history emphasizes applied biological disciplines, including museums–to give only a few examples. agriculture, bioengineering, health, and environmental sciences. • social activism and biology/biology studies. How do biologists of different sorts engage politically? • relations between popular and elite biology. A How do academic students of biology (whether great deal of historical and sociological work has historians, philosophers, or sociologists/social been undertaken recently on popular biology. Far theorists) engage with politically (and morally) less has concerned the relations between popular and charged issues? What is the relationship between academic biology, and very little work has been done biology and activism in different parts of the world? to understand the philosophical distinctions and connections between the knowledge of the two • “applied” biology: agriculture, forestry, fisheries, groups. How can we close these loops? horticulture, veterinary medicine, plant pathology, medicine. What is the nature of the relations (intellectual and social) between these areas and
Of course, we welcome sessions in all areas of our fields; individual paper submissions are also welcome.
The basic time unit for sessions will be 90 minutes; sessions encompassing two units (but not more) are welcome, as long as there are at least five formal participants over the two sessions.
We encourage innovative formats. If you are interested in proposing a session with an unusual format (e.g., with pre-circulated papers or requiring an unusual room format or special equipment), please contact Lynn Nyhart so we can make sure it is feasible.
Questions? Ideas? Suggestions? Contact the Program Officer, Lynn Nyhart, at [email protected], and please be sure to include the term ISHPSSB in your subject line. Email contact is strongly preferred, but if you do not have access to it, you may also send letters via regular mail to Prof. Lynn Nyhart, Dept. of the History of Science, University of Wisconsin, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53726 USA. 3 Successful Organizers Report on First Off-Year Workshop
The first ISHPSSB Off-Year Workshop, Future Directions in and Society, Arizona State University) spoke on the cultural ISH (FDISH), was held on September 23–26 at the University and ethical significance of chimeras and stem cell research, and of San Francisco. The event was co-hosted by USF and UC on developmental evolutionary psychobiology. Kim Sterelny Davis, and was conceived and run by graduate student mem- (Philosophy Program, Australian National University and bers of ISHPSSB. FDISH focused on graduate training in Victoria University in Wellington) spoke on human cognitive philosophy of biology, aiming to create opportunities for evolution, integrating cultural and biological evolution and graduate students and faculty to exchange ideas, build profes- emphasizing non-modular evolutionary responses, and on the sional and personal relationships, and further their research significance of niche construction as an evolutionary projects in an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere. mechanism. Edna Suárez Díaz (History and Philosophy of FDISH was attended by seventy-nine participants (twenty-five Science and the Department of Evolutionary Biology, faculty, fifty-four graduate students) who converged on the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) spoke on University of San Francisco, near Golden Gate Park and conducting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Haight-Ashbury. Of these, eighteen were invited faculty; other history, philosophy, and biology, and on the roles of participants included faculty, post-docs, and graduate students experimental techniques in different approaches to molecular from forty-four institutions in the US, Australia, Canada, India, evolution. James Griesemer (Department of Philosophy and Mexico, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK. Center for Population Biology, UC Davis) gave the keynote The number and diversity of graduate student participants were address, on collaboration and multidisciplinary research. greatly enhanced by travel grants from ISHPSSB for student members, and by some additional travel grants from other There were also seven roundtable discussions: Rob Skipper sponsors. FDISH was able in addition to provide two off-site (Philosophy, University of Cincinnati), with panel members events for all participants—an informal pizza dinner on the Steve Downes (Philosophy, University of Utah), Kelly Smith first night and a more formal closing banquet on the last. In (Philosophy, Clemson University), and Anya Plutynski addition to ISHPSSB, the sponsors who made these events (Philosophy, University of Utah), gave practical advice on possible are: the National Science Foundation, UC Davis “How to market oneself as a philosopher,” from writing a CV Division of Graduate Studies, UC Davis Division of Social to surviving the on-campus interview. Bill Bechtel Sciences, UC Davis Division of Biological Sciences, (Philosophy and Science Studies, UC San Diego) and Lindley University of San Francisco, Indiana University HPS Darden (Philosophy, University of Maryland) presented Department, UC Davis Department of Philosophy, Arizona mechanistic accounts of explanation grounded in molecular, State University Center for Biology and Society, Stanford cellular, and neurobiology. Elihu Gerson (Tremont Research University Office of the Provost, and Stanford University Institute) led a roundtable on the tensions and challenges of School of Humanities and Sciences. pursuing interdisciplinary research, with panel members James Griesemer, Michael Ghiselin (Invertebrate Zoology and The generous support of these sponsors allowed for a full Geology, California Academy of Sciences), Edna Suárez Díaz, program schedule, including lectures, round-table discussions, and Richard Creath (Philosophy, ASU). Jay Odenbaugh, with and faculty office hours. These informal office hours, dubbed panel members Lindley Darden, Rob Skipper, Roberta “Happy Office Hours” (HOHs), were an important feature of Millstein (Philosophy, California State University at Hayward), FDISH, and along with the dinners, helped set the workshop’s and Steve Downes, explored the diversity of models used in inclusive tone. Hybridizing office hours and happy hour, biology. Jane Maienschein (Center for Biology and Society, HOHs took place in local bars and coffee shops near USF each ASU) and Kim Sterelny gave practical advice for students on day after the last scheduled session, when participating faculty writing, submitting, and revising journal articles, drawing on met with small groups of students for informal discussions. their experience as editors of The Journal of the History of Having prearranged “office hours” in these informal settings Biology and of Biology and Philosophy, respectively. David made faculty more accessible to students, and facilitated many Magnus (Stanford University Center for Biomedical Ethics), productive discussions. with panel members Kelly Smith, Jason Robert, Jane Maienschein, and Tom Cavanaugh (Philosophy, USF), Summary of sessions discussed future directions in bioethics, and the opportunities Each invited speaker gave two lectures: Jay Odenbaugh and challenges of this field. Finally, FDISH organizers (Department of Philosophy and Environmental Studies Melinda Fagan (HPS, Indiana University), Patrick Forber Program, Lewis and Clark College) spoke on mathematical (Philosophy, Stanford), Vivette García Deister (Philosophy, models in ecology, and on method in philosophy of biology, UNAM), Matt Haber (Philosophy, UC Davis), Andrew arguing that structural similarities between different special Hamilton (Philosophy and Science Studies, UCSD and sciences can illuminate debates in philosophy of biology. Jason Robert (School of Life Sciences and Center for Biology continued on next page
4 Marjorie Grene Prize Committee Seeks Submissions
ISHPSSB seeks submissions for the 2005 Marjorie Grene Submissions should be in the form of a paper prepared for Prize. This prize is intended to advance the careers of younger submission to a professional journal, with an indication of the scholars, and will be awarded to the best manuscript based on a journal in question and whether the paper is already in review. presentation at one of the two previous ISHPSSB meetings Electronic submissions, in Microsoft Word or PDF format, are (Vienna or Quinnipiac) by someone who was, at the time of preferred and must be emailed no later than March 1, 2005. presentation, a graduate student. Hardcopy submissions must include three complete copies of the paper and be mailed no later than March 1, 2005. The It is very appropriate for ISHPSSB to name this prize in winning entry will be announced by May 1, 2005. Marjorie Grene’s honor. Not only does her work in the history and philosophy of biology exemplify the strong spirit of Submit papers to: [email protected] or Kathy interdisciplinary work fundamental to ISHPSSB, but she Cooke, Grene Prize Committee, CL-AC3, 275 Mt. Carmel played a central role in bringing together diverse scholars of Avenue, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT 06518 biology even before the formation of the Society. She has been a valued mentor to many members of the Society and a long- standing inspiration to all.
The award will consist of a certificate and an award of $500.
Position in Science and Technology Studies University of California at Davis involved participation by members of the Philosophy, History, The University of California at Davis seeks to appoint a Sociology, Anthropology, and other departments in the social Director of the Science and Technology Studies Program, with sciences and humanities, as well as faculty and students in the a joint appointment in Anthropology, Economics, History, natural sciences. Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology or Psychology. Tenured associate or full professor, beginning Fall 2005. Minority and women candidates are especially encouraged to Duties include directing the interdisciplinary program in apply. EO/AAE. Science and Technology Studies, including program development and guiding the transition from an existing In order to receive full consideration, send a letter expressing program in History and Philosophy of Science to an STS interest and current CV by December 1, 2004 to Professor Joan program with undergraduate major. Other duties include Cadden, Search Committee Chair, Science and Technology research, teaching, and service in STS Program and Studies Program, University of California, One Shields department. Teaching is based on a standard faculty load of Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8673, USA. TEL: 530/752-2224, four one-quarter courses per year, which will be reduced for FAX: 530/752-3156, e-mail: [email protected]. The administrative service as STS Director. The appointee must position will remain open until filled. Address informal, have Ph.D. and have a record of strong scholarly and teaching confidential inquiries to the Search Committee Chair. Address accomplishments in some field of social, historical or administrative questions to Lesley Byrns (Office Manager): philosophical studies of the natural or social sciences, 530/752-1291; FAX: 530/752-3156; E-mail: medicine, technology, or engineering [email protected].
The STS Program at the University of California at Davis has
Continued from previous page
Philosophy, USF), and Grant Yamashita (Population Biology, us feedback, via our questionnaire or email. UC Davis) led the closing roundtable, assessing the aims and content of FDISH. For additional information, visit the FDISH website (http:// www.ishpssb.org/workshop2004), designed and maintained by The organizers would like to thank to everyone who Grant Yamashita and Roberta Millstein. participated. The level of interest and enthusiasm for FDISH in the ISHPSSB community was terrific, and should encourage future off-year workshops. Thanks also to everyone who gave
5 ISHPSSB Planning News
Call for Proposals for ISHPSSB Meeting Site in 2009 Call for Nominations It may seem a long time away, but now is the time to start The Society must elect a President-elect to serve that function planning for the 2009 ISHPSSB meeting. The first step is to 2005-2007 (while Garland Allen is President) and then become decide on a location. I invite all interested individuals who President, 2007-2009. Nominees are also needed for three would be interested in having their institution host the meeting, members of the council to serve 2005-2009, for Program to present a proposal to us within the next two months (by Officer for ISH07, as well as for Secretary and Treasurer. The January 15). Proposals should include a general description of latter two officers are eligible to succeed themselves. We the institutional site, availability of housing (dorms, hotels, etc) encourage suggestions to the nominations committee. To and meeting rooms (large lecture halls for plenary sessions and ensure that suggestions are taken into account, they should be enough smaller classrooms for individual sessions), availability sent by December 15, 2004, to the chair of the Nominations of transportation (both internationally and locally), and other Committee, Lindley Darden, [email protected], or to the features (local activities, scenery etc) that would make the Department of Philosophy, University of Maryland, College location attractive. Please send suggestions directly to me via Park, MD 20742, USA. e-mail at: [email protected], or regular mail at Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
MBL-Dibner Seminar in the History of Biology
Co-Sponsored by the NASA History Office new discipline of exobiology began to emerge. It was created from a combination of at least four very different areas of 2005 Topic: Cosmic Evolution and Astrobiology scientific research: planetary science, planetary systems May 15-22, 2005 science, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, and origins Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts and evolution of life.
This is an intensive, one-week seminar with annually varying The course will take an historical approach to exploring how topics. It is designed for advanced graduate students, younger the interdisciplinary field of astrobiology emerged, how scholars, and also more established researchers in biology and astrobiology has affected origins of life research, and how the history and philosophy of biology. astrobiology fits into the larger conceptual scheme of cosmic evolution. How does the emergence of astrobiology compare The course is limited to approximately 20 participants, to the emergence of other subdisciplines in biology? Are there including discussion leaders. historical lessons astrobiologists can learn in their quest for a universal biology? Discussions will be led by invited The topic for 2005 is “Cosmic Evolution and Astrobiology.” In the 1960s, fueled by the Space Age and NASA patronage, the continued on the next page
Notice about Renewals Members are invited to renew when they register for the read “Dues through 2003,” indicating that you have not biennial meeting. Since all memberships run for two paid since 2001. Please visit our website to download a years, this process keeps everyone on track, and helps us renewal form, or use the new PayPal service to pay by minimize additional mailings and reminders. credit card!
If you are unable to attend a meeting, and forget to renew, If you ever have any question about your membership we will include a reminder with the fall Newsletter status, feel free to contact Chris Young, following the meeting. [email protected]
Your renewal date is always printed on the mailing label for the Newsletter.
If you currently need to renew, your mailing label will
6 Propose Sessions Now for Guelph 2005
Now is the time to start thinking about papers and Please keep in mind the ISHPSSB policy on multiple sessions for Guelph! If you have an idea for a session and participation: no one may present in more than one want to see if anyone else is interested, it is easier than session; exceptions are made for those who organize ever before to find out. Just go to the ISHPSSB home another session, comment in another session, or give a page, www.ishpssb.org/ and look under “What’s New.” short plenary address. Individuals may serve more than Clicking on “Suggest a session” will take you directly to one function in a given session, e.g., chair and presenter. the list of suggested sessions, where you can post a message describing your idea. If you have questions about your session or paper idea, or about procedures, please contact the Program Officer, You may also submit a freestanding paper proposal; we Lynn Nyhart: [email protected]. will fit all acceptable papers into appropriate sessions. Lynn K. Nyhart When you submit a paper proposal, which includes a Associate Professor title and abstract, you will receive a reply stating that Department of the History of Science your proposal has been received. Decisions on paper University of Wisconsin—Madison acceptance will be made after the submission deadline of Madison, WI 53706-1393 USA February 15.
ISHPSSB would like to encourage sessions that:
a) combine more than one disciplinary perspective b) include participants from more than one institution and/or nation c) promote the interaction of junior and senior scholars, including students
(1) The program officer, in consultation with the program committee, and consistent with site constraints, will organize a rich, diverse, and high quality program. While it is the intention of the Society to be as inclusive as possible, the program officer has the discretion to reject papers or sessions that are truly inappropriate for these meetings or that do not meet basic standards of communication. The program committee is available to assist the program officer in judging borderline cases. (2) No one may present in more than one session. An exception is made for those who organize another session, comment in another session, or give a short plenary address. Individuals may serve more than one function in a given session, e.g. chair and presenter. (3) Each regular session must have a minimum of three presenters. (4) Topics that extend over two sessions are acceptable, but they cannot extend over more than two sessions. (5) All accepted participants must pre-register for the conference in order to be included in the program. Continued from previous page biologists, historians and philosophers. Readings and For further inquiries, contact Rita Dempsey at questions-to-ponder will be circulated in advance. [email protected] or 617-253-8721.
The MBL-Dibner Seminar in the History of Biology has been Course Directors supported since 1989 by the Dibner Fund and the Dibner John Beatty, University of British Columbia, Institute. Additional funding has been provided for this year’s [email protected] topic by NASA. James Collins, Arizona State University, [email protected] Jane Maienschein, Arizona State University, For more information about the seminar in general, past topics, [email protected] updates concerning this year’s topic, and the application form, please visit the course website at: Organizers for 2005 http://dibinst.mit.edu/DIBNER/DIBNER/DIConferences/ Steven Dick, NASA WoodsHole/WoodsHoleHome.htm James Strick, Franklin and Marshall College
7 Michael Dietrich, President For additional council contact information, visit our Department of Biological Sciences website at ishpssb.org Dartmouth College or contact Chris Young. Hanover, NH 03755 USA (603) 646-1389 [email protected] Lindley Darden, Past President University of Maryland, College Park Garland Allen, President-Elect [email protected] Washington University [email protected] Council through 2007 Joe Cain Keith Benson, Treasurer University College London 13423 Burma Rd. SW [email protected] Vashon Island, WA 98070 USA [email protected] Kathy Cooke Quinnipiac University Chris Young, Secretary [email protected] 1316 N Astor St Milwaukee, WI 53202-2824 USA Phil Sloan (414) 298-9138 University of Notre Dame [email protected] [email protected]
Lynn K. Nyhart, Program Officer Council through 2005 University of Wisconsin Ana Barahona [email protected] UNAM, Mexico [email protected] Vivette Garcia-Deister, Student Representative [email protected] Christiane Groeben Statione Zoologica, Italy Ex Officio Member of Council: [email protected] Pamela Henson, Archivist Institutional History Division Hans-Jörg Rheinberger Smithsonian Institution Archives Max Plank Institut, Germany Washington, DC 20560-0414 [email protected] (202) 786-2735 [email protected]
Are you subscribed to the ISHPSSB Listserv
Don’t forget to check updates online: http://www.ishpssb.org
Deadline for submissions for spring Newsletter: March 15, 2005
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