Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Angela Potochnik

@apotochnik.bsky.social

3.5K followers 740 following 150 posts

Philosopher of science, Director of Center for Public Engagement with Science at University of Cincinnati. Books: Idealization and the Aims of Science, Recipes for Science, Science and the Public. https://www.angelapotochnik.com .. more

Videos

Philosophy 35%

History 12%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · May 9

Video abstract for Melissa's and my new Element, Public Engagement with Science: Defining the Project! #philsky #philsci #scicomm 🧪

Center for Public Engagement with Science @ucpews.bsky.social · May 8

We are excited to announce the official release of the first Element in the new series Elements in Public Engagement with Science!

Hear about the first Element (Public Engagement with Science: Defining the Project) from the authors themselves in the video below 🤩

www.youtube.com/watch?v=auvM...

Cambridge Elements | Elements in Public Engagement With Science | Defining the Project

YouTube video by UC Center for Public Engagement with Science

www.youtube.com

5 19

Reposted by John Wilkins, Alan Richardson, Angela Potochnik

Thomas Spiteri @tespiteri.bsky.social · 20d

This week, we’re joined by Professor Miriam Solomon to discuss stigma and its impact on psychiatry — how it has shaped diagnoses, DSM revisions, and ideas of what counts as disorder

linktr.ee/thehpspodcast

#hps #philsci #psych

S5 E9 – Miriam Solomon on How Stigma Shapes Psychiatry

open.spotify.com

14 46

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Brendan Nyhan, Anders Nilsson , and 9 more Joanna Bryson, Brendan Nyhan, Anders Nilsson, Juan Cole, Michelle Everson, Aaron Sojourner, Colm O’Cinneíde, Siegfried Hekimi, Daxton R. Stewart, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Angela Potochnik

The Onion @theonion.com · 23d

Report: You To Be Fired For Reading This Headline About Charlie Kirk

NEW YORK—Insisting your fate was sealed the moment you clicked the link, a report released Tuesday found that you will be fired for reading this headline about Charlie Kirk. “Shortly after you navigat...

theonion.com

160 3.9K 15K

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · 24d

"...The scientific world-conception serves life, and life receives it." Good ol' Vienna Circle.

1 2 8

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · 24d

"...We witness the spirit of the scientific world-conception penetrating in growing measure the forms of personal and public life, in education, upbringing, architecture, and the shaping of economic and social life according to rational principles..."

1 2 8

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · 24d

"Thus, the scientific world-conception is close to the present. Certainly it is threatened with hard struggles and hostility. Nevertheless there are many who do not despair but, in view of the present sociological situation, look forward with hope to the course of events to come..."

1 5 9

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · 27d

Yay more PSA for me!

Philosophy of Science Association @philsci.bsky.social · 28d

ICYMI: the latest newsletter is out. A warm welcome to our new Governing Board members @apotochnik.bsky.social @hkandersen.bsky.social and to our new Nominating Committee members Wendy Parker, @thebusyowl.bsky.social and Adrian Currie!

mms.philsci.org/msg_detail.p...

Philosophy of Science Association

mms.philsci.org

Reposted by Steven French, Michela Massimi, Angela Potochnik

Philosophy of Science Association @philsci.bsky.social · 28d

Philosophy of Science Association

mms.philsci.org

4 13

Reposted by Steven French, Angela Potochnik

Anna Alexandrova @annaalexandrova.bsky.social · Aug 31

Just registered for PSA Around the World Eastern Europe. Hope you do too! Organised by @philsci.bsky.social with @eenphilsci.bsky.social this online conference over three afternoons in November covers the past and the present of #philsci in Eastern n Central Europe (where it arguably started!)

PSA Around the World 2025 - Philosophy of Science Association

www.philsci.org

1 21 36

Reposted by Angela Potochnik

Celso Neto @celsoneto.bsky.social · Jul 18

🚨Project 🚨My project “Human Genomics without Racism” kicks off during #ISHPSSB25.

Join us for the Symposium “Values, Bias, and Controversies” on Monday 21, 14:30.

#philsky
#popgen
#evosky
#STS
#biological
#HPbio

hugera.org

Home - HUGERA

The Human Genomics without Racism (HUGERA) project brings together geneticists, philosophers, and social scientists to create tools for an ethically sound science of human variation. Latest News

hugera.org

1 6 30

Reposted by Chris Stringer, Steven French, John Wilkins , and 1 more Chris Stringer, Steven French, John Wilkins, Angela Potochnik

Lynn Chiu @drlynnchiu.bsky.social · Jul 20

Read all Elements in The Philosophy of Biology series for FREE during the ISHPSSB conference 20 - 25 July. You can find all of these Elements free to download and read here: cup.org/4kEgivL

Philosophy of Biology

Welcome to Cambridge Core

cup.org

7 69 120

Reposted by Angela Potochnik

Markus Ilkka Eronen @mieronen.bsky.social · Jul 12

What is more useful for explaining human behavior, neuroscience or folk psychology? In this new book chapter, co-authored with Laura Bringmann, we argue for the latter. Featuring mirror neurons, tiny worms, and Steve buying a banana! www.researchgate.net/publication/...

(PDF) On worms, mirror neurons and explaining human behavior

PDF | A key challenge for psychological theorizing is: At what level(s) should we look for the best explanations and predictions of human behavior? The... | Find, read and cite all the research you ne...

www.researchgate.net

2 9 33

Reposted by Thomas Arnold, Nigel Warburton, Sarah Bracke , and 3 more Thomas Arnold, Nigel Warburton, Sarah Bracke, Scott Hill, Angela Potochnik, David Spurrett

Helen De Cruz @helendecruz.net · Jun 20

Dear all,

Helen passed away at 13:21 local time. Helen would not have wanted us to be sad for a long time. All they wanted was to be remembered. They looked forward to being rid of pain and to being at rest. Helen took great comfort in you, their friends and readers.

pt. 1/2

160 280 2.4K

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · Jun 20

Thanks to Ricardo Lopes for interviewing me about Recipes for Science, coauthored with Matteo Colombo and Cory Wright (2nd edition released 2024). You can find links to the YouTube video and podcast at www.thedissenter.net. #philsky #philsci #science

youtu.be

1 11

Reposted by Angela Potochnik

Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · Jun 13

Mass protests matter. Tomorrow's No Kings National Day of Action will send a clear message that millions of people from all walks of life oppose the Trump administration’s illegal power grab. Find your local event here: nokings.org

No Kings

On June 14—Flag Day—Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. ...

nokings.org

1 10 25

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · Jun 9

Collin's dissertation explores the nature of maker's knowledge and, accordingly, how engineering is central to science's cumulative progress. I think the project is truly innovative and important.

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · Jun 9

Congratulations to Collin Lucken for successfully defending his dissertation, Engineering Progress in Science! Thanks to Adrian Currie @adrian-currie.bsky.social, the large face looming on the wall, for tremendously helpful involvement as external committee member. @ucphilosophy.bsky.social #philsci

1 1 15

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · Jun 3

Great job on the dissertation and defense, Mel! We look forward to seeing where your work goes from here. Our committee photo is unfortunately missing Colin Allen, who was an excellent external committee member.

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · Jun 3

Congratulations to Mel Andrews @bayesianboy.bsky.social for successfully defending their dissertation, The Math is Not the Territory: On the Uses & Abuses of Machine Learning & Other Mathematical Modelling Strategies! #philsky #philsci @ucphilosophy.bsky.social

Photo of four philosophers standing in a row: Tony Chemero, Mel Andrews, Zvi Biener, Angela Potochnik

5 10 170

Reposted by Michela Massimi

Center for Public Engagement with Science @ucpews.bsky.social · May 8

Cambridge Elements | Elements in Public Engagement With Science | Defining the Project

YouTube video by UC Center for Public Engagement with Science

www.youtube.com

3 7 20

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · May 6

May 8 is also the launch of the series Melissa and I are editing with @cambridgeup.bsky.social, Elements in Public Engagement with Science. There's 12+ other Elements in progress by amazing authors from different fields. Learn about the series and find our volume: www.cambridge.org/core/publica...

Public Engagement With Science

Welcome to Cambridge Core

www.cambridge.org

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · May 6

Public Engagement with Science: Defining the Project by Melissa Jacquart @mjacquart.bsky.social and me is now physically in the world (as well as freely available online)! Keep an eye out for a video introduction to the Element released on the official publication date, Thursday May 8.

1 6 29

Reposted by Helen De Cruz, Angela Potochnik

University of Cincinnati, Department of Philosophy @ucphilosophy.bsky.social · May 5

Levels of Explanation is now out with OUP—open access! It includes a chapter from Angela Potochnik (@apotochnik.bsky.social), ‘Antireductionism has Outgrown Levels’: she argues that the idea that explanations come in levels has led philosophers astray. Link below👇

doi.org/10.1093/oso/...
#philsky

2 13

Reposted by Angela Potochnik

University of Cincinnati, Department of Philosophy @ucphilosophy.bsky.social · Apr 30

Interested in public engagement with science? Check out Professor Angela Potochnik’s (@apotochnik.bsky.social) recent blog post: ‘Science and the Public’! #philsky blog.apaonline.org/2...

Science and the Public

I was awarded my Ph.D. in Philosophy in 2007. Early in my Ph.D. program, I mentioned to a more senior graduate student that I was interested in how science relates to society. This student explained to me that, while some philosophers of science consider the social structure of science, it simply is outside the scope…

blog.apaonline.org

2 5

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · Apr 30

I'm nearing two years as department head (@ucphilosophy.bsky.social). The biggest surprise might be the sheer volume of letters I've had to write, for all kinds of purposes. 61 so far, just for this role--so, not including tenure letters, etc. They vary in depth but many are several pages. Wild.

Reposted by Angela Potochnik

Shobita Parthasarathy @shobitap.org · Apr 25

My sense is that Panchanathan initially thought that he could limit the damage and protect the core work of the agency, but that quickly proved untenable: "orders...to accept a 55% cut to the agency’s $9 billion budget next year and fire half its 1700-person staff may have been the final straws...."

Exclusive: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

“I have done all I can,” says Sethuraman Panchanathan, a Trump appointee who has led agency since 2020

www.science.org

Reposted by Jenni Barclay, E. Richard Gold, Layna Mosley , and 1 more Jenni Barclay, E. Richard Gold, Layna Mosley, Angela Potochnik

Alexandra Witze @alexwitze.bsky.social · Apr 24

It's not just Columbia, it's not just DEI, and it's not just biomedical research: Trump's war on universities has frozen crucial science at institutions like Princeton, Cornell, Northwestern, and more. Our @nature.com team spoke to some of the affected scientists: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

How Trump’s attack on universities is putting research in peril

Scientists have little information as the US government freezes and cancels their funding.

www.nature.com

12 210 410

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · Apr 24

I also reflect on how the relationship between science and the public is much more mainstream in philosophy of science now than a couple of decades ago, though still not quite codified as a proper focus of study (for example, no PhilPapers category yet!)

Angela Potochnik @apotochnik.bsky.social · Apr 24

Check out my post in the APA's Public Philosophy Blog on the idea of "responsive science"--addressing science's obligations to society by combining diversified professional participation and increased public participation in science. #philsky #philsci #scicomm #science

Science and the Public

blog.apaonline.org

1 4 10

Reposted by Angela Potochnik

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Apr 21

BREAKING: Harvard sues the Trump administration to stop the freeze of more than $2 billion in grants.

Harvard sues Trump administration to stop the freeze of more than $2 billion in grants

Harvard University has announced that it's suing the Trump administration to halt a freeze on more than $2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration’s demands to limit activism on campus.

bit.ly

26 140 1K