Spring 2025 Colloquium Series
About
This series is jointly hosted by the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science (MCPS), the Program in History of Science and Technology, and the Program in the History of Medicine. Each semester we invite scholars from around the country and the world to present on scholarship in the history and philosophy of science, technology and medicine.
Seminars will not be held on the following dates:
- 2/28/25
- 3/7/25
- 3/24/25
Lectures begin at 3:35pm in 216 Pillsbury Drive (formerly Nicholson Hall), Room 125 on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus.
At this time, all events will be in-person unless otherwise stated. Some events may be subject to change. Please check back for updates or contact [email protected] for more information.
To learn more about MCPS-sponsored lectures, please visit their website.
Upcoming Colloquium
Henry Cowles, February 7, 3:35 p.m.
History, University of Michigan

Sandra Mitchell, February 14, 3:35 p.m.

Jared Richman, February 21, 3:35 p.m.

Callie H. Burt, March 21, 3:35 p.m.

Laura Hirshbein, March 28, 3:35 p.m.

Sarah Cameron, April 4, 3:35 p.m.

Haixin Dang, April 11, 3:35 p.m.
referee reports are only read by the authors and editors. In contrast, open peer review can occur either pre- or post-publication, and the referee reports are published alongside the paper. Sometimes, the referees' identities are never blinded, or their identities are revealed at publication. Does open peer review result in better, more rigorous science? In this talk, I argue that this question should interest philosophers of science and that philosophy of science can
offer unique insights into the value of transparency. I will argue that transparency is not always a pure epistemic good. Transparency is costly. In fact, transparency and honesty can trade off against each other in surprising ways. Understanding these trade-offs can help us design better peer review systems that align with the epistemic goals of science. In conclusion, I argue for a pluralistic approach to reforming peer review in science.

Paul Brinkman, April 18, 3:35 p.m.
the saving of species over the taking of specimens.

Yang Li - April 25, 3:35 p.m.
Department of History and Integrated Liberal Studies, UW-Madison

Earlier Colloquium
Paul Kreitman, January 24, 3:35 p.m.
***CANCELED***

Whitney Barlow Robles, January 31, 3:35 p.m.
