The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science – Details, episodes & analysis

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The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science

HPS@UniMelb Samara Greenwood

Science

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/10d. Total Eps: 76

Leading scholars in History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science (HPS) introduce contemporary topics for a general audience. Developed by scholars and students in the HPS program at the University of Melbourne.

Producers and Hosts: Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino.

Season Four Now Out. New Episodes EVERY THURSDAY.

More information on the podcast can be found at hpsunimelb.org

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Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - science
02/08/2026
#90
🇫🇷 France - science
17/11/2024
#91
🇬🇧 Great Britain - science
27/09/2024
#90

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https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/school-of-historical-and-philosophical-studies
64 shares
https://pixabay.com/users/comastudio-26079283/
58 shares
https://www.hpsunimelb.org/blog
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https://www.instagram.com/thehpspodcast
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https://twitter.com/TheHPSPodcast
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Score global : 67%

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S4 Ep 2 - Simon Schaffer on 'Leviathan and the Air-Pump: 40 years later' (Part 1)

Season 4 · Episode 2

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 • Duration 26:39

This episode is the first of two in which the celebrated Professor of History of Science, Simon Schaffer, discusses the famous HPS publication, Leviathan and the Air-Pump: Hobbes, Boyle and the Experimental Life, which Simon co-wrote with another esteemed HPS scholar, Steven Shapin, in the early 1980s.

The book went on to become one of the most well-known across both HPS and STS, with next year marking 40 years since its first release.

In todays episode, Simon discusses his own academic story, introduces us to the books main themes and aims, and muses on why it was this particular publication became so well known.

Simon is also a delightful, scholarly communicator, so enjoy listening and remember to tune in again next week for the equally entertaining second half.

Transcript available here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s4-ep-2-simon-schaffer-on-leviathan-and-the-air-pump-40-years-later-part-1

Relevant links:

Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with current producers, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, bluesky, twitter, instagram and facebook feeds. Music by ComaStudio.

This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne.

HPS Podcast | hpsunimelb.org

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S4 Ep 1 - Sam and Carmelina on 'Studying Humanities and Science'

Season 4 · Episode 1

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 • Duration 20:52

Welcome back to The HPS Podcast for Season 4.

In today's episode, Carmelina and Samara touch on a variety of topics, but a core theme is 'how we study science through the lens of the humanities'. Both Sam and Carmelina believe the skills and perspectives developed through disciplines such as history, sociology, and philosophy are crucial to resolving many of today's problems. So, it is incredibly sad that they continue to be undervalued by many.

We hope The HPS Podcast - in its own small way - contributes to a broader appreciation of the richness and value of the humanities approach.

Also - make sure to listen to the end for some fun outtakes from the recording of this episode!

Transcript available here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s4-ep-1-sam-and-carmelina-on-studying-humanities-and-science

Relevant links include:

S3 Ep 10 - Aja Watkins & Miguel Ohnesorge on 'Philosophy of the Geosciences'

Season 3 · Episode 10

Thursday, May 16, 2024 • Duration 26:22

Today we are joined by Miguel Ohnesorge and Aja Watkins to talk about a new subfield of HPS - The Philosophy of the Geosciences.

Miguel and Aja recently co-authored an article titled 'What is the Philosophy of the Geosciences?' In today's episode, we discuss many of the themes introduced in the paper, including common problems found across such diverse geoscientific disciplines as palaeontology, seismology and climate science.

Aja and Miguel highlight how the geosciences have had to develop similar strategies for studying such large and often inaccessible phenomena. As global sciences, they also face many common ethical challenges, including rectifying a history of often extractive and exploitative practices, as well as navigating the continued ramifications of their research on human welfare and the environment.

A transcript of the episode can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep-10-aja-watkins-miguel-ohnesorge-on-philosophy-of-the-geosciences

Relevant links:

Aja's Website: Aja Watkins (ajawatkins.org)
Miguel's Website: Miguel Ohnesorge (mohnesorgehps.com)
Open Access Paper: What is Philosophy of the Geosciences? | Ohnesorge & Watkins | 2024 Philosophy Compass
Research Group: Philosophy of the Geosciences Research Group | Alisa Bokulich
Colloquium: Philosophy of the Geosciences Colloquium | Boston University
Recording: Aja Watkins | Using Paleoclimate Analogues to Inform Climate Projections
Recording: Miguel Ohnesorge | Bringing Gravitation Down to Earth: Severe Testing in Laplace’s Mécanique Céleste

S3 Ep 9 - Emma Kowal on 'Haunting Biology'

Season 3 · Episode 9

Thursday, May 9, 2024 • Duration 26:29

How are we to understand Indigenous biological difference in the twenty-first century?
Is it a racist ruse, a stubborn residue of racial pseudoscience?
Or is it a potentially empowering force that can be unlocked by newly accurate science?
Or by being under Indigenous control?

Today’s guest is Deakin Distinguished Professor Emma Kowal. Emma first trained as a doctor and public health researcher, before turning to cultural and medical anthropology. Now Emma also works across Science and Technology Studies and the History of Science and is the immediate past president of The International Society for Social Studies of Science (4S).

The episode focuses on Emma's recently published monograph Haunting Biology: Science & Indigeneity in Australia. In the book, Emma wrestles with the need to acknowledge the ghosts of science past at the same time as we forge new pathways in Indigenous genomics.

A transcript for the episode can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep-9-emma-kowal-on-haunting-biology

Related links:

The Book - Haunting Biology | Emma Kowal
The Centre - ANU National Centre for Indigenous Genomics
The Program - SING Australia | Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics
Profile - Emma Kowal Profile | Deakin University
Deakin SSN - Deakin Science and Society Network
Earlier Book - Trapped in the Gap: Doing Good in Indigenous Australia | Emma Kowal
Interview -

S3 Ep 8 - Haixin Dang on 'Disagreement in Science'

Season 3 · Episode 8

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Duration 30:49

We have a very special episode today with guest host Dr Joshua Eisenthal interviewing fellow philosopher of science, and good friend, Dr Haixin Dang on the fascinating subject of Disagreement in Science.

It might seem like scientists should always aspire to achieve consensus, and therefore any disagreement in science is a mark of failure. However, as Haixin points out, disagreement is in fact a vital part of healthy scientific practice.

Disagreement helps scientists be reflective about their work, challenging each other to consider alternative positions, question assumptions and further their investigations in a variety of ways.

However, exactly how disagreement works in science, and what kind of disagreements are more or less helpful, has not been well-studied. Haixin suggests a better understanding of scientific disagreement may be important for science communication and tackling science scepticism. If we can better explain how scientists actually make progress, perhaps members of the public will be more understanding when the experts disagree.

A transcript of the episode can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep-8-haixin-dang-on-disagreement-in-science

Further links:

Website: Haixin Dang
Journal Article: Minority Reports: Registering Dissent in Science | Philosophy of Science | Haixin Dang
Journal Article: Do Collaborators in Science Need to Agree? | Haixin Dang
Physics Examples Mentioned
- No more doubts: Two independent studies confirm LIGO’s Nobel discovery | Ars Technica

S3 Ep 7 - Sophie Ritson on 'Collaboration in Science'

Season 3 · Episode 7

Thursday, April 18, 2024 • Duration 22:58

Today's episode features one of our favourite philosophers of physics, Dr Sophie Ritson. Sophie's research focuses on the way contemporary physicists – of both the experimental and theoretical kind – work together to develop reliable knowledge and find creative ways to expand our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Sophie is unafraid to dig in where others fear to tread. She began her career examining the string theory controversy and, more recently, has studied first-hand the high stakes experimental particle physics happening at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland.

In this week’s episode, Sophie discusses her fascinating research on these topics, as well as on the larger question of ‘how do large scale research collaboration’s generate knowledge?’

A transcript of the episode can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep-7-sophie-ritson-transcript

Further links:

Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with current producers, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, , and feeds. Music by . This podcast would not be possible without the support of .

S3 Ep 6 - Kirsten Walsh on 'Rethinking Isaac Newton through his Archive'

Season 3 · Episode 6

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 • Duration 26:40

Today's guest is Dr Kirsten Walsh, a philosophy lecturer at the University of Exeter.

Kirsten’s research primarily focuses on Isaac Newton and his methodology, but she is careful to consider philosophical issues alongside a sensitivity and consideration for historical contexts.

In today’s episode Kirsten gives us a sense of how our historical understanding of Newton has changed over time, and the role various archival practices have played in what knowledge is developed.

Kirsten’s lively discussion gives us a wonderful insight into the detailed, everyday practices of Newton, but also of the archivists who decide what records are to be kept, and the historians who interrogate those documents in varying ways.

A transcript of the interview can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/s3-ep-6-kirsten-walsh-transcript

Related links

Website: Philosopher | Kirsten Walsh
Paper: 'The Unknown Newton' | Kirsten Walsh
Paper: 'Frameworks for Historians and Philosophers' | Currie & Walsh
Book: The Newton Papers | Sarah Dry
Archive: Newton Papers | Cambridge Digital Library
Website: The Newton Project
Archive: The Royal Society | Science in the Making
Article: 'Newton goes digital' | Royal Society

Throwback Thursday - Greg Radick on 'Counterfactual History of Science'

Season 3 · Episode 5

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 • Duration 29:16

This week the team at The HPS Podcast are taking a mid-semester break!

To celebrate we are reposting one of our favourite episodes from Season 1 featuring Professor Greg Radick, a leading historian of biology at the University of Leeds.

In the podcast Greg discusses the use of counterfactuals in history of science - the term we use for asking ‘What if?’ questions about history - and their potential to subvert our conventional thinking.

In Greg’s research, a central counterfactual question is: “What might biology be like now if a different side had triumphed in early debates on genetics?”

For example, might we be a little less deterministic about genetic inheritance and a little more embracing of contextual effects on human development?

By asking such seemingly simple ‘what if’ questions, fruitful new lines of investigation and alternative perspectives can open up.

A transcript of the interview can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/episode-5-transcript

Related links

Profile: Professor Gregory Radick | University of Leeds
Website: Gregory Radick | Personal Site
Book: Disputed Inheritance: The Battle over Mendel and the Future of Biology
Article: Teach students the biology of their time | Nature

Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with current producers, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, , , and feeds. Music by . This podcast would not be possible without the support of .

S3 Ep 4 - Dan Hicks on 'Public Scientific Controversies'

Season 3 · Episode 4

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 • Duration 27:34

In today’s episode we have assistant professor and philosopher of science, Dan Hicks, taking us through better understanding public scientific controversies.

‘Public scientific controversies’ is a term Dan uses to capture a broad variety of controversies that involve both science and the public. This would include controversies around vaccines, genetically modified foods, medical research and climate change.

In studying why controversies like these arise and persist, Dan has found our common explanations are not always fit for purpose. Controversies aren’t all of one type, so a blanket diagnosis like, "it is all due to the public not properly understanding the science" or alternatively "the problem is widespread distrust of science," is not helpful.

Instead, Dan argues that what is required is more careful consideration of the specific processes and mechanisms at play in each case. Better diagnoses can then help us better determine appropriate and effective interventions.

Relevant links for Dan:

Profile - Dan Hicks - About
Research - Dan Hicks - Research
Discussion - Dan Hicks - philosophy of science, data science, environmental policy
Relevant Article - Dan Hicks - Misinformation and trustworthiness: Frenemies in the analysis of public scientific controversies

The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science – Details, episodes & analysis

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The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science – Details, episodes & analysis

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