National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science

The National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science (NCHPS) fosters history and philosophy of science/science and technology studies (HPS/STS) in Australia, links the Academy to Australian HPS/STS researchers, and links Australian and overseas HPS/STS researchers. This is done primarily through the International Union for History and Philosophy of Science (IUHPS) and the Australasian Association for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science (AAHPSSS).

The committee includes active scholars in the field and represents various teaching programs and research centres in Australia, promoting a spirit of cooperation essential for maintaining communication within the HPS/STS community. It is an important point of contact for those engaged in recording, analysing, and publicising excellence in past and present Australian science, and making these results accessible. The NCHPS actively contributes to governmental and policy debates in Australia as well as to maintaining ongoing reviews of the state of the field, and efforts toward its continued growth.

Governance

• Terms of reference (DOCX, 33 KB)

Reports and activities

• Submission - State of the Social Sciences 2021 April, 2021
• Submission—Targeted consultation on the draft principles for accessing and using publicly funded data for health research February, 2015

Related groups and organisations

• International Union of History and Philosophy of Science
  The IUHPST is the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. It is a member union of ICSU, the International Council for Science. It consists of two Divisions: the Division of History of Science and Technology (DHST) and the Division of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science and Technology (DLMPST). The National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science advises the Academy on matters relating to IUPHST.
• Australasian Association for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science
• World History of Science Online project
• Deakin Science and Society Network reaches across the disciplinary divides of our universities and institutions, and the divides between research, policy and practice. They emphasise the effective communication and translation of research, as the benefits of knowledge can’t be fully realised unless information is shared widely across different audiences. Together with the National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science, they have hosted Emerging Issues in Science and Society events which pair a scientist and a science and technology studies researcher together to discuss pressing issues in Australian society.

Mike Smith Student Prize for History of Australian Science or Australian Environmental History

The Australian Academy of Science, through its National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science, partners with the National Museum of Australia to run the biennial Mike Smith Student Prize for the History of Australian Science or Australian Environmental History.

The prize rewards and recognises the work of students in the history of Australian science or Australian environmental history.

The winner of the 2023-24 Mike Smith Prize has been announced.

Newsletter of the National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science

The Newsletter of the National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science (NCHPS) highlights news, opportunities and events relevant to the diverse fields of interest that occupy the discipline of history and philosophy of science. Subscribe to the newsletter and read previous editions.

Members

• Chair: Dr Rachael Brown
  • Australian National University, Director of Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences
  • Research Expertise: Philosophy of biology, cognitive science
• Ex-officio Member: Dr Martin Bush
  • The University of Melbourne, Senior Research Fellow, Secretary at The Australasian Association for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science.
  • Research Expertise: Planetariums, cultural history of popular science, public reasoning practices, the science communication work of the Ngarrindjeri Australian David Unaipon.
• Committee member: Professor Warwick Anderson
  • The University of Sydney, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Research Expertise: History of science, medicine, and public health
• Committee member: Associate Professor Adrian Carter
  • Monash University, School of Psychological Sciences
  • Research Expertise: Neuroethics, addiction, drugs, public policy
• Committee member: Associate Professor Gavan McCarthy
  • Swinburne University of Technology, Editor-in-Chief, Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation
  • Research Expertise: History of Australian science and technology
• Committee member: Dr Timothy Neale
  • Deakin Institute, Senior Research Fellow
  • Research Expertise: Anthro, science and technology studies
• Committee member: Associate Professor Ian Hesketh
  • The University of Queensland, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities
  • Research Expertise: History, science, and religion with a focus on nineteenth-century Britain
• Committee member: Professor Hallam Stevens
  • James Cook University, College of Arts, Society & Education
  • Research Expertise: history of life sciences, history of information technology
• Committee member: Professor Fiona Fidler
  • University of Melbourne, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies (SHAPS), School of Ecosystem and Forest Science (SEFS)
  • Research Expertise: Metascience
• Committee member: Dr Kate Lynch
  • University of Melbourne, History and Philosophy of Sciences Department
  • Research Expertise: biology and philosophy, how to understand causation in biological systems, such as genetics, medicine, and microbiomes
• Committee member: Dr Thao Phan
  • Australian National University, Lecturer in Sociology (STS), Research School for Social Sciences
  • Research Expertise: feminist STS, feminist technoscience, critical race studies
• Observer: Professor Joan Leach
  • Australian National University, Director of the Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science
  • Research Expertise: Science communication history and theories of the public, social epistemology