Seminars and Lectures


UPCOMING LECTURES AND TALKS

October 31, 2008 Rice University
November 6-9, 2008 PSA Pittsburgh
March 20, 2009 Pittsburgh
June 6-11, 2009 Jerusalem/Tel-Aviv, Israel, Cohn Institute conference on Lamarck
July 12-17, 2009 ISHPSSB Brisbane, Australia
June, 2010 Konrad Lorenz Institute, Altenberg Austria


PAST INVITED LECTURES

2008

"Neo-Heraclitus: Objectivity, Judgment and a Problem of Locality in Biodiversity Research," Committee on Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science and the Fishbein Center for History of Science, University of Chicago, April 11 2008.

"Tracking, Abstracting and Colligating Work Make Scientific Facts that can Travel," Workshop on Making Small Facts Travel: Labels, Packages, and Vehicles, London School of Economics and Political Science, March 28 2008.

"What Simon Should Have Said (About Dynamical Boundaries)," The Edges and Boundaries of Biological Objects Workshop, University of Utah, March 13 2008.

2007


"History as a New Method for Theoretical Biology," Conference on Science in the Context of Application, Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung, Bielefeld September 28, 2007.

Participant, Future Challenges in Theoretical Biology, Santa Fe Institute, August 13-15, 2007.

"What Simon Should Have Said," International Society for History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology," Exeter July 29, 2007.

"Comments," Critically Assessing [Ron Amundson] The Changing Role of the Embryo I (author-meets-critics roundtable), International Society for History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology," Exeter July 27, 2007.

2006

Chair, Origins and Transformations Workgroup, Theoretical Biology Workshop, National Science Foundation, September 27-29, 2006.

Navel Gazing and Problem Convergence: A Budget of Problems in Biology Studies, FDIBS (Future Directions in Biology Studies) workshop, International Society for History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology off-year workshop, July 30, 2006.

"Variational Models for Developmental Processes: Towards a New Ontology for Evo-Devo," Altenberg Seminars in Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna, 22-23 June 2006.

2005

"Rethinking Classical Embryology and Genetics from an Evolutionary Process Perspective" Department of Philosophy, University of Calgary, Canada, October 25, 2005.

"Rethinking Classical Embryology and Genetics from an Evolutionary Process Perspective" Fourth Developmental Basis of Evolutionary Change (DBEC) Conference, University of Chicago, October 21, 2005.

"Rethinking Classical Embryology and Genetics from an Evolutionary Process Perspective" Evolution Discussion Group, University of California, Davis, October 5, 2005.

"Reproducers and the evolutionary development of culture," Symposium on "The Evolution of Cultural Novelty, International Society for History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, Guelph, Canada, July 14, 2005.

"Tracking organic processes: representations and research styles in classical embryology and genetics", Science Studies, UC San Diego, January 24, 2005.

2004

"Genetics from an Evolutionary Process Perspective," National University of Mexico (UNAM), November 15-16 2004.

“Collaboration or, how to “ishkabibble” in philosopher’s clothing,” Keynote presentation, FDISH (ISHPSSB Future Directions in the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology Workshop), University of San Francisco, September 23, 2004.

2003

"Chemical Autonomy and Stoichiometric Freedom," International Society for History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, Vienna Austria, July 20, 2003.

"Reproduction, Freedom, Autonomy and the Levels of Life," Konrad Lorenz Institute, Altenberg Austria, June 26, 2003.

"Rethinking the Gene" (with Nipam Patel and Evelyn Fox Keller), on Odyssey. A Daily Talk Show of Ideas (www.odysseyradio.org), hosted by Gretchen Helfrich, WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio), 10-11 am CT, February 20, 2003. http://www.wbez.org/services/ram/od/od_030220.ram

2002

"A Process Perspective on Explanatory Styles in Embryology and Genetics," in the workshop: From Embryology to Evo-Devo,
Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology, Cambridge MA, October 18-19, 2002.

“INFORMATION, PARITY AND THE MULTIPLICITY OF INHERITANCE SYSTEMS” in a Symposium: The Concept of Information in Biology, International Congress of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology VI, Patras Greece, Sept 14, 2002.

"Rebuilding, Reproducing, Evolving. Reflections on shikinen sengu and the cultural evolution of Ise Shrine, Japan," Philosophical Institute, UNAM, Mexico City, June 27, 2002.

"Space <->Time: Temporality and Attention in Iconographies of the Living," Experimental Arcades: The Materiality of Time Relations in Life Sciences, Art, and Technology (1830-1930), Internationale Begegnungsstätte "Harry Graf Kessler", Weimar, Friday, 24 May 2002.

"The Gene, the Replicator, and the Reproducer," History and Philosophy of Science Department, Indiana University, January 11, 2002.


2001

"History and Philosophy of the Genetic Code," Information Session on Genetic Information, American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division meeting, Atlanta, Dec. 30, 2001.

"Managing Time in Model Systems: Illustrations from Evolutionary Biology," Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester, England, December 4, 2001.

"What’s genetic about the genetic code?" Lancaster University, England, November 30, 2001.

"What’s "epi" about epigenetics?", November 25-28, 2001, Ghent University, Reserch Unit on Evolution and Complexity, Symposium on "Contextualizing the Genome: the Role of Epigenetics in Genetics, Development and Evolution." Ghent, Belgium, November 26, 2001.

"Keeping Perspective", Dibner Institute summer workshop, "History of Developmental Biology: From Embryology to Evo-Devo", Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, June 6, 2001.

"Managing Time and Attention in Model Systems: Illustrations from the History of Biology", HPS Department, Cambridge University, March 6, 2001.

"Classical Genetics and the Geography of Genes" (with Lisa Gannett), presentation in the workshop, "The Mapping Cultures of 20th Century Genetics", Max Planck Insitute for the History of Science/WissenschaftsForum, Berlin, March 1-4, 2001.


2000

"Picturing Embryological Time," Chronicity or the Narration of Temporal Phenomena, Symposium organised by Collegium Helveticum, ETH Zurich, June 8, 2000.

"Units of reproduction and the promise of reductionistic research in evolutionary biology," Promises and limits of reductionism in biomedical sciences, Philippe Laudat Conference, Abbaye de Royaumont, Paris, May 23, 2000.

"Comments" Author Meets Critics: Kim Sterelny and Paul Griffiths, Sex and Death: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Biology, American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division meeting, Albuquerque, April 8, 2000.

"The Units of Evolutionary Transition", History and Philosophy of Science Department, Indiana University, February 25, 2000.




1999

"Managing Time in Model Systems: Illustrations from Evolutionary Biology", Princeton History of Science Workshop, Model Systems, Cases and Exemplary Narratives, October 2, 1999.

"Weismann and Weismannism", ISHPSSB-99, Oaxaca Mexico, July 7, 1999.

"Genetics in a process perspective", Basel Switzerland, March 19-20, 1999.




1998

"Weismannism in Perspective: Visual Images in Relation to Theoretical Models," for the Sloan Foundation-Dibner Institute workshop "Memory: Genetic, Epigenetic, and Historical," Van Leer Institute, Jerusalem, December 14-17, 1998.

"Reproducers and Replicators: Viewing Genetics from a Process Perspective," for presentation at Duke University, November 16, 1998.

"The Institutionalization of Comparative Research for the 21st Century," California Academy of Science workshop, San Francisco, November 5-7, 1998.

Philosophy of Science Association Meeting, Kansas City, "Development, Culture and the Units of Inheritance," in the Symposium: The Developmental Systems Perspective in Philosophy of Biology, October 23, 1998.

Max Plank Institute for the History of Science, "Contrastive Concept Formation," May 27, 1998.

Max Plank Institute for the History of Science, "Weismannism and Visual Representation," May 25, 1998.




1997

Sloan-Dibner Workshop, "Knowability of Scientific Entities - Genes and Genetic Programs", Ventura California, Dec 4-7, 1997, "Reproduction and the Concept of Genetic Information."

Evolutionary Naturalism 1997: Bioepistemology and the Challenge of Development and Sociality, Altenberg Workshops in Theoretical Biology, Session 13 facilitator: "The Real Synthesis," June 7, 1997.

Sigma Xi, Davis Chapter, "WhatÕs "epi" about Epigenetics?," May 20, 1997.

History of Science and Technology, University of California, Berkeley, "Refiguring Weismannism," May 5, 1997.

Science Studies, University of California, San Diego, "Refiguring Reproduction: The Reduction of Genetics," April 28, 1997.




1996

Max Plank Institute for the History of Science, "Reproduction and the Reduction of Genetics," Berlin Germany, October 1996.

ICSEB-V, "Individuality and the Multiplicity of Inheritance Systems," Budapest Hungary, August 1996.




1995

Discussant, "Replicator II: Judgement Day," session at the meeting of the International Society for History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, Leuven, Belgium, July 20, 1995.

Discussion Panel, California Academy of Sciences, "History in the Service of Museums," San Francisco, May 20, 1995.




1994

Committee on Conceptual Foundations of Science, University of Chicago, "Image and Argument: Toward a Visual Logic of Weismannism," Dec 5, 1994.

Department of Philosophy, Northwestern University, Evanston, "The Distended Replicator, or the Non-concept of Reproduction in Evolutionary Theory," Dec 2, 1994.

Theoretical Biology Seminar, Collegium Budapest (Institute for Advanced Study), Budapest, Hungary, "Weismannism, Heredity/Development and Evolution," Nov 20, 1994.

Symposium: New Perspectives on the History of Life, 75th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Division AAAS, California Academy of Sciences, "Periodization and Models in Historical Biology," June 21, 1994.

Luce Foundation Seminar Series on Biotechnology, Stanford University, "Visual Tools for Talking: Genetic Determination and the Social Hybridization of DNA," May 26, 1994.

Conference on Visual Representations in Science and Technology, Institute for the Medical Humanities, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, "Image and Argument: Toward a Visual Logic of Weismannism," April 29, 1994.

Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science and Studies of Science and Technology Program, University of Minnesota, "An Image of the Argument: Gaining Perspective on Genotype and Phenotype," January 7, 1994.




1993

Workshop on Systematics as a Historical Science, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, "Periodization and Models in Historical Biology," June 24, 1993.

Forschungsschwerpunkt Wissenschaftsgeschichte und Wissenschaftstheorie, Berlin, "High Theory/Low Science: Toward an Institutional Philosophy of Science," June 17, 1993.




1992

Reproduction and Genetics Study Group at Berkeley, Institute for the Study of Social Change, UC Berkeley, "The Non-Concept of Reproduction in Evolutionary Theory," April 9, 1992.

Symposium: Sex and Reproduction, American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division, "Progeneration, Development and the Concept of Reproduction in Evolutionary Theory," Portland Oregon, March 28, 1992.

Class Lecture, Contemporary Medical Biochemistry (BCM 214/414; M. Hanley, UCDMS), "Genetic Susceptibility, Responsibility, and Heritability," UCD, January 24, 1992.

Panel presenter, California Academy of Sciences, "Necessity and Contingency: a consideration of concepts in Stephen J. Gould's book,Wonderful Life," San Francisco, January 17, 1992.




1991

Invited Participant, University of Chicago Centennial Conference on Biology at the University of Chicago, 1892-1950, "Sewall Wright's Influence on Econometrics," November 23, 1991.

West Coast History of Science Society, "Representing Weismannism," Morro Bay, Ca, May 4, 1991.

Genes R Us: So Who is That?, A Conference Sponsored by The University of California Humanities Research Institute and The University of California Biotechnology Research and Education Program, University of California, Irvine, "Weismannism and the Interpretation of Genetic Information," May 2, 1991.

Comment on a paper by Barbara Horan, American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division, San Francisco, "Horan on The Statistical Character of Evolutionary Theory", March 28, 1991.

Invited Participant, University of California Humanities Research Institute program, "Bioethics: Anticipating Ethical Issues of New Developments in Genetics and Genetic Technology," March 1, 1991. Presentation on Weismannism, Development and Molecular Genetics.




1990

History of Science Society, Seattle, Washington, "Collaboration in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology," Symposium on "Collaboration in Biology" organized by Jane Maienschein, October 27, 1990.

Philosophy of Science Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, "Material Models in Biology," Symposium on "Biology: The Non-Propositional Side" organized by Michael Ruse, October 20, 1990.

Invited Participant, Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology Seminar, "Experimentation in Evolutionary Biology," Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole MA, August 12-19, 1990.

NSF Young Scholars Program, University of California, Davis, "Why Philosophy of Biology?," July 10, 1990.

Science Studies Colloquium, University of California, San Diego, "Organic Machinery: Thomas Park and Sewall Wright at Chicago," April 9, 1990.




1989

NSF Conference on Foundations of Development and Evolution, Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe NM, "Rhetorical Questions Regarding the Historical Relationship between Evolution and Development," November 5, 1989.

Ecology Seminar, University of California, Davis, "Why Was Ecology Left Out of the Evolutionary Synthesis?," February 17, 1989.

Ecology Seminar, University of California, Davis, "In Defense of Natural History," February 16, 1989.




1988

Committee on Conceptual Foundations of Science, University of Chicago, "Museums as Modeling Systems, A Defense of Natural History," November 4, 1988.

NSF Conference on Evolutionary Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, "Varieties of Models in Biology," July 14, 1988.




1987

Summer Conference on History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, "Laboratory Models and Units of Selection," June 16, 1987.

Biological Anthropology Lecture Series, University of California, Los Angeles, "Vial Mischief: Thomas Park's Laboratory Ecology," April 30, 1987.




1986

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California, Irvine, "Thomas Park's Tribolium Model and the Logic of Laboratory Ecology," December 3, 1986.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California, Irvine, "The Role of the Collector: Joseph Grinnell, Ecology and the Evolutionary Synthesis (or, How the West Was Lost)," December 2, 1986.

Philosophy of Science, Stanford University, "Indeterminacy and Causal Explanation in Laboratory Ecology," June 5, 1986.

Graduate Group in Physiology, University of California, Davis, "Popper's Philosophy of Science: The Role of the Laboratory Model in Hypothesis Testing," April 11, 1986.

Committee on Conceptual Foundations of Science, University of Chicago, "Artifice, Cause and Group Selection," January 31, 1986.

Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, "Distinguishing Scientists' and Philosophers' Conceptions of Causality," January 29, 1986.




1984

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, "Philosophy of Science and the Science of Philosophy," November 5, 1984.


CONTRIBUTED PAPERS




"No Public Exhibits: Reflections on the Methods of a Research Museum," International Society for History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, Leuven, Belgium, July 21, 1995.

"Modeling Systems as Instruments," International Society for History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, June 22, 1989.

"Causal Explanation in Laboratory Ecology: The Case of Competitive Indeterminacy," Philosophy of Science Association, Evanston, October 30, 1988.

"Ecology and Abstraction in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology," Summer Conference on History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, June 17, 1987.

"Representing Scientific Problems by Multiple-Structures Analysis," Society for Social Studies of Science, Four Society Meeting, Pittsburgh, October 26, 1986.

"Linking Concepts with Work Organization: Natural History and Ecological Theories," with S. L. Star, Society for Social Studies of Science, Four Society Meeting, Pittsburgh, October 25, 1986.

"Artifice, Cause and Group Selection," Summer Conference on History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, June 29, 1985.

"Making Up Our Minds About Strong AI: Comments on John Fisher," American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division, San Francisco, March 23, 1985.

"Presentations and the Status of Theories," Philosophy of Science Association, Chicago, October 20, 1984.

"Evolutionary Epistemology," Summer Conference on History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, Denison University, July 18, 1983.