Dear ISH Colleagues,
Here are the announcements for October.
1. LISTSERVE MODERATOR – Please consider serving as the Listserve Moderator. It is an excellent way to be involved in ISH and to satisfy your institution’s Service to your Intellectual Community. It takes a only a few hours per month and has a great impact on the viability of our institution. Email [log in to unmask] for more information.
Seminars
2. TODAY: PhilInBioMed Seminar, Alan Love (Minnesota) and Gunter Wagner (Yale), "The Hierarchical Basis of Serial Homology and Evolutionary Novelty", October 18th, 2023, 5pm (Paris time, UTC+2)
***This talk will be online.
Alan Love is John M. Dolan Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota (USA) and Director of the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science. His research focuses on conceptual issues in biology and has concentrated on evolutionary developmental biology (Evo-devo), developmental biology, molecular biology, and paleontology.
Günter Wagner is a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, USA and at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna. His main research interest is the evolution of gene regulation as it pertains to the origin of evolutionary novelties.
Both are members of the PhilInBioMed Network.
All details here: https://www.philinbiomed.org/event/alan-love-gunter-wagner/
Abstract
Given the pervasiveness of gene sharing in evolution and the extent of homology across the tree of life, why is everything not homologous with everything else? The continuity and overlapping genetic contributions to diverse traits across lineages seem to imply that no discrete determination of homology is possible. Although some argue that the widespread overlap in parts and processes should be acknowledged as “partial” homology, this threatens a broad base of presumed comparative morphological knowledge accepted by most biologists. Following a long scientific tradition, we advocate a strategy of “theoretical articulation” that introduces further distinctions to existing concepts to produce increased contrastive resolution among the labels used to represent biological phenomena. We pursue this strategy by drawing on successful patterns of reasoning from serial homology at the level of gene sequences to generate an enriched characterization of serial homology as a hierarchical, phylogenetic concept. Specifically, we propose that the concept of serial homology should be applied primarily to repeated but developmentally individualized body parts, such as cell types, differentiated body segments, or epidermal appendages. For these characters, a phylogenetic history can be reconstructed, similar to families of paralogous genes, endowing the notion of serial homology with a hierarchical, phylogenetic interpretation. On this basis, we propose a five-fold theoretical classification that permits a more fine-grained mapping of diverse trait-types. This facilitates answering the question of why everything is not homologous with everything else, as well as how novelty is possible given that any new character possesses evolutionary precursors.
If you'd like to attend, please contact Thomas Pradeu.
Sincerely, Thomas.
--
Thomas Pradeu
CNRS Research Director in Philosophy of Science
Immunology Unit ImmunoConcEpT, UMR5164, CNRS & University of Bordeaux
Presidential Fellow, Chapman University, CA, USA
Team Leader Conceptual Biology and Medicine Team
Coordinator of the Philosophy in Biology and Medicine Network (PhilInBioMed)
Université de Bordeaux
Bâtiment Bordeaux Biologie Santé, 3ème étage
2, rue Docteur Hoffman Martinot
33076 Bordeaux
3. The History, Philosophy and Biology Teaching Lab (LEFHBio) will continue its 2023 seminar cycle in the month of November!
At November 7th 2023 at 08:30 AM BRT, Michela Massimi (University of Edinburgh, UK) will speak about epistemic communities and their situated practices, discussing how questions about scientific realism are treated when we consider a plurality of scientific perspectives.
LEFHBio is associated with the Institute of Biology/ Federal University of Bahia and the National Institute of Science and Technology in Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies in Ecology and Evolution (INCT IN-TREE), Brazil. Since 2022, it began organizing its seminar cycle with invited speakers coming both from academic and a diversity of other environments.
WHAT?
Event of the Seminar Cycle of the History, Philosophy and Biology Teaching Lab (LEFHBio)
TITLE:
Epistemic communities and their situated practices. Perspectival Realism: a primer
SPEAKER:
Michela Massimi (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Language: English
WHEN?
November 7th 2023, 08:30 AM BRT
(For conversion, use https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html, choosing Salvador, Bahia - Brazil)
WHERE?
Remote event, Zoom
Short URL: https://tinyurl.com/3w5zrnv7
Long URL: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87901616549?pwd=crGnj5J3547avFPUGbR4Auiz4YIDgY.1
In case Zoom asks:
Meeting ID: 879 0161 6549
Password: 094797
Epistemic communities and their situated practices. Perspectival Realism: a primer
Michela Massimi (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Abstract: I present the rationale, motivation, and some of the highlights of my recent book Perspectival Realism (Oxford University Press, 2022) by looking at how the realist question in philosophy of science can be reconsidered once a plurality of scientific perspectives is taken on board.
Short bio: Michela Massimi is Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Edinburgh (UK), having previously taught in the Dept of Science and Technology Studies at University College Londres (UCL, UK). She works in the area of history and philosophy of science (especially modern physics). She was the PI on an ERC Consolidator Grant called Perspectival Realism (2016-21). She currently serves as President of the Philosophy of Science Association (PSA, 2023-24).
Previous events of the Seminar Cycle of the Teaching, Philosophy and History of Biology Laboratory (LEFHBio) are available in the LEFHBio channel on You Tube:
Kostas Kampourakis, Students’ “teleological misconceptions” in evolution education: why the underlying design stance, not teleology per se, is the problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg_mz_0rDLc
Adela Molina, Matriz compreensiva da educação científica com uma abordagem intercultural
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWu8TR3KAoA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leDjwz3NGt8
Maël Montévil, How should we think scientifically about biological objects?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGsRqIpm7TI
Celso Sánchez, A pesquisa em educação ambiental e a perspectiva comunitarista na pesquisa em educação
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIZP791n_9A
Luiza Machado e Ahypunã Gwa Tawato, Povo Maraguá: Vida e Luta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwg7yzzl5z4
Eduardo Solari, Anna Simão, Maria Bandeira, Insurgências em prol da Autogestão Comunitária
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VSnVRNiVgk
Antoine Dussault, On the possibility of generalized selected effects ecological functions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr94thGKuZI
Fábio Nunes, Projeto de Conservação do Periquito Cara-Suja
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_mZdi5HUyw
André Junqueira, Ecologia Histórica da Amazônia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws_T7zPwqNs&ab
Sabina Leonelli, Globalizing plant knowledge beyond extractive epistemologies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qlhajdGoDU&ab
Hilton Japyassu, Cognição estendida: fechamento organizacional e ecologia da individualidade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=161srUCM6AA&ab
Ana Teixeira de Melo & Leo Caves, Environ-ings: Epistemically potent environments for complex knowings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcP-fbAqCDs&ab
Julia Turska, Back by popular demand, ontology! Productive tensions between anthropological and philosophical approaches to ontology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFucXS6BUB4&ab
Fellowships
4. Visiting Fellow at the Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh
Accepting Applications for Visiting Fellowship - Fall and/or Spring 2024 - 2025 Academic Year - Deadline December 10th
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Start Date: 9/1/2024
Job Description: Visiting Fellow at the Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh
The Center for Philosophy of Science invites applications for a visiting fellowship during the fall and/or spring term of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Visiting Fellowships enable philosophers of science to spend a fall and/or spring academic term working in the Center for Philosophy of Science on a project in philosophy of science that they nominate. Ten Visiting Fellowships are offered each year. Most Fellows stay for a semester, although some stay for a whole year.
Visiting Fellows must have a doctoral degree. It is expected that the doctorate will be in philosophy, in history and philosophy of science, or that the applicant has an established position in the professional community of philosophy of science. We particularly welcome submissions from members of underrepresented groups.
The Center expects a Visiting Fellow’s research to be supported by his or her own university, or by a foundation or governmental agency. The monthly stipend ($2,500/month) is intended to defray extra costs of dislocation.
Visiting Fellows have no formal duties. They are expected to reside in Pittsburgh, to undertake research full time in an office in the Center for Philosophy of Science, and to participate in the life of the Center by attending and giving talks, contributing to discussion groups, etc.
Applications are due by December 10th, 2023, and must be submitted electronically on the University of Pittsburgh jobs portal. Appy Here: https://cfopitt.taleo.net/careersection/pitt_faculty_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=23006889&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York
Further information and specific requirements can be found here: Program Overview - https://www.centerphilsci.pitt.edu/programs/visiting-fellows/program-overview/
Please make sure to read thoroughly.
Required Documents:
· A cover letter that indicates a Visiting Fellowship is sought and describes: the period of proposed residence in the Center; any previous Fellowships at the Center; the source and amount of likely funding; and an indication of need for supplementary funds.
· Description of project to be undertaken during residence (500-1000 words)
· Curriculum Vitae
· Sample of your written work
· Letters of reference from three knowledgeable scholars. We recommend letters whose content is blinded to the applicant. Email all letters directly to [log in to unmask].
5. Post-Doc position in history and philosophy of the life sciences, Freudenthal Institute, Utrecht University
The Freudenthal Institute at Utrecht University seeks applications for a postdoctoral research position. It will be part of the NWO-VIDI research group “Microbiome research and race in the Local South”, PI Dr. Abigail Nieves Delgado.
* Duration: 3 years
* Planned starting date: January/February 2024
* Deadline for the application: November 6, 2023
For details on the call, please visit: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs/postdoc-in-history-and-philosophy-of-the-life-sciences-08-10-fte
For further inquiries please contact [log in to unmask]
6. PhD position in history and philosophy of the life sciences, Freudenthal Institute, Utrecht University
The Freudenthal Institute at Utrecht University seeks applications for a PhD position. It will be part of the NWO-VIDI research group “Microbiome research and race in the Local South”, PI Dr. Abigail Nieves Delgado.
* Duration: 4 years
* Planned starting date: January/February 2024
* Deadline for the application: November 6, 2023
For details on the call, please visit: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs/phd-position-in-history-and-philosophy-of-the-life-sciences-10-fte
For further inquiries please contact [log in to unmask]
Abigail Nieves Delgado
Freudenthal Institute
Utrecht University
https://www.uu.nl/medewerkers/ANievesDelgado
Research Project & Survey
7. ISHPSSB Perspectives on Function in Biology and Bio-Inspired Design
The ‘Function’ in Biology and Bio-Inspired Design project group associated with the Agency, Directionality, and Function cohort program invites you to participate in a research study led by the PhD student Dimitri Smirnoff ([log in to unmask]) that seeks to understand how people from different professional backgrounds (e.g., biology, engineering, architecture, chemistry, history of science/biology, philosophy of science/biology, etc.) perceive the biological accuracy and design value of biological statements commonly used in nature inspired innovation (e.g., biomimetics). The long term goal is to inform how these statements are used and how to navigate collaborations between disciplines.
The survey is 15-20 min long and is best completed on a computer. You can participate by clicking here or following this link: https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6qXD3bWZYb8bn2m. For this research project to be successful, we need to gather a large and diverse sample. Thus, please feel free to forward this message to others you think might be interested and/or willing to participate. You could share the text in this email and/or this flier (also attached) with your friends, colleagues, department, organizations, professional societies, and listservs.
Thank you for engaging in whatever way you choose! We're grateful for your support.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Alan Love ([log in to unmask])
Emilie Snell-Rood ([log in to unmask])
--
Alan C. Love
Winton Chair in the Liberal Arts
Distinguished McKnight University Professor
Department of Philosophy & Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science
University of Minnesota
http://umn.edu/~aclove
Current Project: Agency, Directionality, and Function: Foundations for a Science of Purpose
New Publications: (i) Reflections on the study of biological agency and its evolution (open access); (ii) Stress, harshness, and evolutionary history; (iii) Telling stories about unseen ancestors
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