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UCL STS Seminar series: Milena Ivanova
20 March 2024, 4:00 pm–5:30 pm
UCL STS Seminar series : What Makes an Experiment Beautiful?
This event is free.
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Cost
- Free
Organiser
-
UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies
Location
-
G25IOE- John Adams Hall15-23 Endsleigh StreetLondonWC1H 0DP
Abstract
Scientific products are often celebrated for their aesthetic dimension and compared to works of art. Scientists themselves, like artists, are praised for their creativity, originality and aesthetic sensibility. In this talk I explore the aesthetic dimension of scientific experiments, from experiments performed in the early years of the Royal Society, to contemporary experiments involving complex technologies and set ups, and ask: what makes an experiment beautiful? By focusing on historical case studies as well as qualitative data collected from interviewing over 200 contemporary scientists, I identify what is aesthetically valued in the lab and the role beauty plays in experimental practice.
About the Speaker
Milena Ivanova
Director of Studies, Assistant Tutor at Newnham College, University of Cambridge
More about Milena Ivanova