History and Philosophy of Science

History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) is a research cluster in the UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).

The History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) research cluster explores how scientific knowledge — and the practices that produce it — have shaped and been shaped by societies throughout history. We take a broad view of scientific knowledge, encompassing systematic understandings of both the natural and human worlds, as well as the technologies and material objects that enable, represent, and embody such knowledge.

Our work is grounded in the belief that there are many historical pathways to scientific insight. We aim to recover, interpret, and communicate this diversity, drawing on a wide range of disciplines and cognate fields. History and Philosophy of Science is inherently interdisciplinary - a crossroads subject - and we are committed to learning from and contributing to adjacent areas of scholarship.

Members of the cluster share a conviction that studying the history and philosophy of science serves a vital purpose. It enriches our understanding of past cultures and provides critical perspectives on contemporary scientific discourse. By representing the past empathetically, we seek to challenge assumptions, uncover overlooked narratives, and offer fresh interpretations of familiar figures and ideas .

Our also research invites new ways of thinking about science - past and present - and engages with questions of identity, possibility, and philosophical foundations. Where does science come from? What has it done through history? And what philosophies underpin its development?

 

Core The History and Philosophy of Science (HPS)  Staff

  • Professor Jon Agar
  • Dr Chiara Ambrosio
  • Dr Jenny Bulstrode
  • Professor Joe Cain
  • Professor Andrew Gregory
  • Professor Frank James
  • Professor Phyllis Ilari  (Cluster Lead)
  • Dr Rory Jubber
  • Dr Helene Scott-Fordsmand
  • Dr Erman Sozudogru
  • Professor Emma Tobin
  • Dr Cristiano Turbil
  • Professor Simon Werrett

Our cluster also includes our PhD students researching the history of science in addition to research and teaching fellows.

All key contacts details can be found Here

Funded Projects

Current and recently funded projects within the department are listed below, along with the names of the relevant staff involved:

  1. Humphry Davy's Notebooks: How Poetry Helped Create Scientific Knowledge (James)
  2. Joseph Banks, Science, Culture and the Remaking of the Indo-Pacific World (Werrett)
  3. The Historical Context of the Origins of the Biological Weapons Convention (Balmer)
  4. PANDORA (Sarah Edwards)
  5. Evaluating evidence in medicine [Brendan Clarke and Phyllis Illari] (Further details at the University of Kent website)

Reading Group

STS operates several reading groups. One focuses on History of Science in a broad sense. For information about joining the group, please contact Professor Jon Agar, who manages access.