I teach various HPS courses in Lyman Briggs’ History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science program. I also lead responsible conduct of research (RCR) classes for graduate students and train-the-trainer workshops for faculty.
Spring 2025-26
I’m on a Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship in India followed by various national and international research projects, so I am not teaching any LBC courses these semester.
Fall 2024
MW 10:20 – 12:10 pm
Virtual
The workings of Darwin’s law are observable not just in biology, but in any system that meets its basic conditions. Combining biology, computer science and philosophy of science, this course will examine evolution in action in both natural and digital systems. It will also examine the philosophical and legal issues as they came into play when creationists challenged evolutionary science in the courts.
This course will be conducted primarily in seminar format, emphasizing class discussion and student-led presentations. We will work to develop skills of effective group discussion and oral presentation. Students will also write and defend a thesis in a major research paper.
Recent Courses
MW 3 – 4:50 PM
On-line by Zoom
Science is a vocational practice with a characteristic set of values that underlie its distinctive methods and mindset. While it is common to speak of medical practice, the notion of scientific practice is not as well understood. This course will explores the motivations and methodologies of scientific endeavors, using these to help illuminate some of the relationships between science and other major human institutions such as religion, politics, government, and the economy. This interdisciplinary course emphasizes scholarship and methodologies from the social sciences and empirically-minded philosophy of science.
As appropriate to our topic, this course will emphasize practice. We will work to develop habits for effective group discussion, writing, and other skills important for scientific excellence.
