Descartes Centre Afternoon

Questioning Science – A Descartes Centre Afternoon

As academics, we continuously question what we do. This can take many forms: Ethical reflection, methodological considerations, strategic decisions, relating to historical traditions, institutional and political contexts, ... . We frequently do that in our own academic environments of departments or research groups. Within UU, we also have a centre that can bring together, stimulate, and further professionalize our reflections and our questions concerning what we do: The Descartes Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Sciences and Humanities. This lengthy name is part of the centre’s program: The Descartes Centre is a centre from and for the entire university, bringing together colleagues and activities from and for all faculties. 

The Descartes Centre supports all forms of reflection on science (in the broad sense, covering all disciplines); it does not depart from a pre-defined set of questions, but is open for all suggestions as to activities in this field. The Centre brings together expertise from all faculties that can help us reflect in a more connected way about what we do in academia, and what academic work can mean in today’s societal contexts. And: The Centre is open for everyone who is interested in this broad range of questions! More information about the Descartes Centre’s activities can be found here.

On June 3^rd, we want to present the Descartes Centre to the entire university; you are all invited to a Descartes Centre Afternoon at Parnassos! Spread the word and also bring your colleagues! We hope to welcome a broad spectrum of attendees: from long-term DC collaborators to students interested in our topics and to colleagues visiting a DC activity for the first time.

A broad range of activities 

• Mission statements about the importance of “History of Science” and “Philosophy of Science”, and information about how the Descartes Centre can support you in your activities – let’s also work on a mission statement together!

• Discussions on: Is Academic Freedom in the Netherlands Under Threat? Presented and discussed by Roberta d’Alessandro.

• Stories about our University, presented by The Working group for Utrecht University history (WUU – Werkgroep voor Utrechtse Universiteitsgeschiedenis). Feel invited to share your own stories, perhaps focused on an object, an image, or an event!

• Photography, Science, and the University: Jasper Zijlstra will present a small exhibition with his photos – take this as an invitation to think with us about how an adequate visual representation of the university should look like, and to bring photos and pictures from your own work, or pictures that can represent the university!

• Objects from the museum: Merlijn Barkema will present and discuss objects from the University Museum. Feel invited to bring objects that are dear to your academic heart and think about how you want to have your research being preserved and presented in the future!

• Scientific literacy Ralph Meulenbroeks - „Scientific literacy“ covers issues such as: What should everyone know about science? How do we convey an adequate image of science? How can I make my own research known and understood in a variety of contexts? We’ll look into what this term can mean, and what an insight into this concept can mean for your research.

• “Historicities” – Historical and philosophical perspectives on doing historical research : The Descartes Centre will organize a “repository” bringing together different approaches to historicization and the methodological and philosophical questions that these approaches raise. Do you have a specific approach to “historicity” or a problem or question connected to the historical dimension of your research? Come to the “historicities” stand at the Descartes Centre afternoon and discuss it with us!

If you are interested to join us, we kindly ask you to register for this event by sending an email to infodescartescentre@uu.nl. And please tell your colleagues about this event!