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

The winners of the 2021-22 Mike Smith Prize have 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
• Committee member (past chair): 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
• 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: Professor Cordelia Fine
  • University of Melbourne, Professor, History and Philosophy of Science
  • search Expertise: Moral psychology
• 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: Professor Catherine Waldby
  • Australian National University, Director, Research School of Social Sciences
  • Research Expertise: Sociology and social studies of science and technology
• 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 Rachel Ankeny
  • University of Adelaide, School of Humanities
  • Research Expertise: History and philosophy of science, biomedical/biological sciences, food studies, bioethics and science policy, migration history
• Committee member: Professor Sara Maroske
  • Historical Records of Australian Science, Co-Editor.
  • Research Expertise: History and philosophy of science