Department Profile:
The Department of History and Philosophy of Science offers research supervision over a wide range of topics - from ancient, medieval and renaissance science to the twentieth century. MPhil and PhD research is facilitated by outstanding libraries, numerous seminars and reading groups, and a lively international community of staff, students and visiting scholars. The Whipple Museum - one of the UK's most important collections of scientific instruments - provides students with opportunities for working with the material culture of science.
Faculty Teaching Staff:
John Forrester(Head of Department); Nick Hopwood; Nick Jardine; Lauren Kassell; Martin Kusch; Tim Lewens; Eleanor Robson; Simon Schaffer; Jim Secord; Liba Taub; Dr Sorin Bangu; Dr Richard Barnett; Dr Alex Broadbent; Dr Kevin Brosnan; Dr Vanessa Heggie; Mr Nicky Reeves;
Research Staff:
Dr Elma Brenner; Dr Philippe Clancier; Dr Andrew Cunningham; Dr Graham Cunningham; Dr Hilary Powell; Dr Torben Rees; Dr Laurence Totelin;
Areas of Expertise:
History and philosophy of psychoanalysis and human sciences; History of modern medicine and biology; Early-modern cosmology; historiography of the sciences; history of natural history; History of early modern medicine and the occult sciences; science and technology studies; Philosophy of biology; philosophical bioethics; Science in the ancient and pre-modern Middle East; history of mathematics; History of physical science; social history of science; Social history of science; life and earth sciences; History of scientific instruments, early science and astronomy;
Special Resources:
Whipple Museum of the History of Science: a world-class collection of scientific instruments and models; Whipple Library: extensive holdings in all areas of the history, philosophy and sociology of science, technology and medicine; Cambridge University Library (copyright library): includes archives for Maxwell, Newton, Kelvin, Darwin and Rutherford
