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Department of History and Philosophy of Science

 

New research asks us to rethink the impact of oceanic travel on our view of the world

September 2024

Drawing our movement through the world as a line on a map is not an obvious idea. It has deep historical roots, and many of them can be found in maritime voyages. This is the argument made by Dr Sara Caputo in her new book Tracks on the Ocean: A History of Trailblazing, Maps and Maritime Travel.

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Sheryl Wombell wins 2024/25 Freer Prize Fellowship

August 2024

The Royal Institution has awarded the prize for Sheryl Wombell's research into the spread of medical knowledge among 17th-century elites.

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The rise, fall and revival of research on human development

August 2024

Analysing the past sheds light on the present resurgence of research on human development. That's the lesson of a new study by Nick Hopwood published in the Journal of the History of Biology.

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Unveiling Darwin's treasures

March 2024

Edwin Rose on the 200-year-old plant specimens collected on the Beagle voyage.

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50th anniversary celebration

July 2023

An event marking the 50th anniversary of the Department was held on 13–14 July 2023.

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On the origins of Cambridge HPS: A 50th anniversary reflection

August 2022

The Department of History and Philosophy of Science was established 50 years ago, on 1 August 1972, but the story of Cambridge HPS begins in the 1930s.

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Retirement event: Secord – Taub – Schaffer – Hug

July 2022

A special event was held to mark the retirement of four of our colleagues.

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REF 2021

May 2022

HPS and the Faculty of Philosophy would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved in an outstandingly successful Research Excellence Framework submission.

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Tamara Hug's retirement

March 2021

Tamara Hug, our much-loved Departmental Administrator, retired on 31 March after 33 years of service.

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Lauren Kassell's Inaugural Lecture

June 2019

Professor Lauren Kassell gave her Inaugural Lecture, 'You, Me and the Moon: Magic, Medicine and the History of Science', on 28 June.

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PhD Reunion

July 2018

The Department held its first reunion for PhD alumni on 2 & 3 July.

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Book launch and garden party

June 2015

The Department celebrated the launch of Nick Hopwood's book Haeckel's Embryos: Images, Evolution and Fraud with a talk by Dr Hopwood followed by a party in the grounds of Peterhouse.

Photos

 

Tim Lewens's Inaugural Lecture

June 2014

Tim Lewens gave his Inaugural Lecture, 'Nature, Culture and Philosophy', on 20 June 2014.

Photos

 

Midsummer Garden Party

June 2013

The Department held a garden party to mark Eleanor Robson leaving and John Forrester stepping down as Head of Department.

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The Seven Ages of Nick Jardine

June 2010

The Department held a special event at Peterhouse and in the Botanic Garden to celebrate the work of Nick Jardine.

Photos