Dear ISH Colleagues,

   Please see the next batch of announcements below in four categories:

 

1. Call for Papers

2. Prize Submissions

3. Upcoming Elections

4. Summer School

 

1. Call for Papers

(I learned a new acronym: cfp)

Rice University (2 Events)

 

Engineering Life: Legacies of Asilomar

Houston, Texas, USA 

May 8-9, 2023 

Contact: Luis Campos, Rice University, [log in to unmask] 

in collaboration with Jane Calvert of the University of Edinburgh (UK) 

https://global.rice.edu/rice-edinburgh/legacies-asilomar-cfp 

 

Engineering Life: Regulating Science, Risks, and Society in Europe
Paris, France 

June 14-16, 2023 

Organisers: 

Luis Campos, Rice University (US) 

Francesco Cassata, Università di Genova (IT) 

Christina Brandt, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (DE) 

https://global.rice.edu/pariscenter/about/engineering-life-cfp 

Contact: [log in to unmask] 

 

“Debating the ethics of human interference with the mechanics of evolution in a church at the edge of the immense saline test tube where it all started: Rarely does one find one’s metaphors so cheap—or so apt.” So began an infamous Rolling Stone article summarizing the historic International Conference on Recombinant DNA Molecules held in February 1975. Convened by the world’s molecular biologists, the meeting was intended as a technical gathering to assess means of minimizing the risk of potential biohazards involved with novel recombinant DNA techniques before these had been fully developed (and before much was known about them), in order to lift a temporary and voluntary moratorium. The “Asilomar” meeting, as it came to be known, drew over a hundred scientists from around the world (as well as four lawyers) to hash out the potentials of the novel recombinant DNA technology—all while being observed by sixteen journalists, a new feature for a scientific conference. Rice University Global | email: [log in to unmask] | https://global.rice.edu 

 

Nearly fifty years on now, the contested meanings of this landmark event in the history of science policy are ripe for reconsideration. In the half-century since Asilomar, scientists, scholars, and policymakers alike have debated whether “Asilomar” was a paradigmatic or exemplary event; recounted how it unfolded and what it all meant for laboratory protocols, research agendas, scientific governance, and for society at large; and also questioned whether “another Asilomar” meeting was necessary to deal with the emergence of newer techniques in biotechnology. (Today, “Asilomar” is routinely invoked in a variety of other fields ranging from geoengineering to artificial intelligence and machine learning.) 

In preparation for the fiftieth anniversary of Asilomar, we propose to activate a network of scholars and students across the United States and Europe to reconsider this seminal event in the history of science and science and technology policy. 

Two related but separate events on the American and European legacies of Asilomar will be held—the American legacies event will take place on the campus of Rice University in Houston; the European-oriented event will be held under the auspices of the Rice Global Center in Paris, France 

 

Submissions related to the following topics would be favorably received: 

 

To contribute to either event, please send a title and abstract of no more than 300 words, along with a short biography or one-page CV, to [log in to unmask] by March 15, 2023. 

https://global.rice.edu/pariscenter/about/engineering-life-cfp (Paris, June 14-16)

 

2. Prize Submissions

 

ISHPSSB (2 Prizes)

2023 Marjorie Grene Prize - The International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB) seeks submissions for the 2023 Marjorie Grene Prize.

 

This prize is intended to advance the careers of younger scholars, and will be awarded to the best manuscript based on a presentation at one of the two previous ISHPSSB meetings (CHSL or Oslo) by someone who was, at the time of presentation, a graduate student.

It is very appropriate for ISHPSSB to name this prize in Marjorie Grene’s honor. Not only does her work in the history and philosophy of biology exemplify the strong spirit of interdisciplinary work fundamental to ISHPSSB, but she played a central role in bringing together diverse scholars of biology even before the formation of the Society. She was 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 US$500, as well as a permanent record of the award on a plaque which circulates every two years to the current winner(s). Submissions may be simultaneously considered for the Grene and the Callebaut prizes, but a paper may not be awarded both prizes.

Submissions should be in the form of a paper prepared for submission to a professional journal, with an indication of the journal in question. An electronic copy (in Microsoft Word or PDF format), together with the required cover sheet, should be emailed as one document to co-Chair of the Grene Prize Committee Mael Lemoine, no later than 1 April 2023. The winning paper will be announced at the 2023 ISHPSSB conference. The committee reserves the right not to make an award, or to split the award.

 

2023 Werner Callebaut Prize - The International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB) seeks submissions for the 2023 Werner Callebaut Prize.

 

This prize is intended to advance the careers of younger scholars working at the intersection of the fields represented by ISH, and will be awarded to the best manuscript utilizing an interdisciplinary approach based on a presentation at one of the two previous ISHPSSB meetings (CHSL or Oslo) by someone who was, at the time of presentation, a graduate student.

The prize is named in honor of Werner Callebaut, whose untimely death in 2014 inflicted a serious blow to the philosophy of biology community worldwide. Werner’s mentorship and guidance benefited the intellectual and personal development of countless philosophers and scientists over the last twenty years, and contributed greatly to making sure that philosophical and scientific work evolve in constructive dialogue and reciprocal respect. His work reached creatively across fields of relevance to the philosophical understanding of biology (comprising areas as far removed as economics, evolutionary biology, history, sociology and cognitive science), as well as across national cultures, languages and traditions (most notably the ‘continental-analytic’ divide among philosophers of science), hence making a prize focused on interdisciplinarity most appropriate, especially for ISHSSPB which explicitly encourages interdisciplinary approaches.

The award will consist of a certificate and an award of US$500, as well as a permanent record of the award on a plaque which circulates every two years to the current winners. Submissions may be simultaneously considered for the Grene and the Callebaut prizes, but a paper may not be awarded both prizes.

Submissions should be in the form of a paper prepared for submission to a professional journal, with an indication of the journal in question, along with a brief statement detailing the interdisciplinarity represented in the manuscript. An electronic copy (in Microsoft Word or PDF format), together with the required cover sheet, should be emailed as one document to co-Chairs of the Callebaut Prize Committee Mael Lemoine, no later than 1 April 2023. The winning paper will be announced at the 2023 ISHPSSB conference. The committee reserves the right not to make an award, or to split the award.

With thanks to the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research (KLI) for financial support for the Callebaut Prize.

 

Jim Griesemer and Maël Lemoine
Chairs of the Marjorie Grene and Werner Callebaut Prize Committee

 

3. Upcoming Elections

 

AAAS Annual Elections

 

The election for AAAS positions opened on February 20 and runs through February 28. We encourage ISH members in AAAS to vote! To learn about candidates visit https://www.aaas.org/governance/2023-election-candidates. And, we encourage membership in AAAS sections: L, X, and others!

 

4. Summer School

 

Philosophy in Biology and Medicine Summer School 

 

The PhilInBioMed network, the University of Bordeaux, the CNRS and Bordeaux Summer Schools, are pleased to announce the launch of the 2023 edition of the Philosophy in Biology and Medicine Summer School (https://bss-philinbiomed.u-bordeaux.fr/en/).

Taking place in the historic city center of Bordeaux, France, from June 12th to June 16th, 2023, it welcomes Master students, PhD students, and postdocs, from the fields of philosophy, life sciences, and medicine. Participants will learn to use interdisciplinary methods to address conceptual issues in scientific research.
 
The Summer School starts with a lecture by Elliott Sober (University of Wisconsin), laureate of the 2023 PhilInBioMed Award. Discussants are Kevin Lala (formerly Laland), Ford Doolittle, and Silvia De Monte.

Course leaders will be present throughout the week providing examples of interdisciplinary research based on their own experience, as well as interacting and advising participants on their projects. Course leaders include Silvia De Monte (Evolutionary Biology, ENS Paris), Andy Ewald (Medicine, Johns Hopkins), Lucie Laplane (Philosophy, IHPST Paris & Gustave Roussy), and Lauren Ross (Philosophy, UC Irvine), along with local organizers.

The deadline for registration is March 31st, 2023. The fees are €500 for Master students and PhD students and €700 for postdocs (including lunch, coffee breaks and accommodation). 

A limited number of grants will be available upon demand.

If you are interested, please visit the webpage mentioned above.
 
Sincerely,
Thomas Pradeu.

 

End of Announcements

 

Best regards, Lloyd

 

Lloyd Ackert, Ph.D.
Department of History

Drexel University

ISH Listserve Moderator
https://www.ishpssb.org/

NEWS: https://www.ishpssb.org/news