Project Summary
About the Project:
This is a research project hosted by the Technical University of Munich’s Chair of Philosophy and History of Science and Technology, as well as the TUM Public Science Lab. The project researchers are Dr. Elis Jones, Dr. Emma Cavazzoni, and Professor Sabina Leonelli. The project is based in the disciplines of history, philosophy and social studies of science, that is, it aims to explore the conceptual underpinnings of scientific practice, and the social and historical dimensions of scientific research.
Project Goals
The purpose of the research is to systematically analyse the nature of contemporary life sciences research and how it is being shaped by environmental change. This includes a focus on both the objects of research and also the means by which research is practiced. In particular, we are interested in:
- Areas of science focused explicitly on environmental change
- Areas of science with strong connections to agriculture
- Plant, insect, and aquatic sciences
Methods
The study will proceed through a variety of social and philosophical methods, in particular interviews, surveys and participant observation with relevant scientists and practitioners. Data will be collected through these methods and subject to thematic analysis. Results will primarily inform publications intended for academic audiences.
Background Information
For a sense of some of the major themes animating our work, see some of our past publications related to this topic:
- Leonelli, S., 2025. Environmental Intelligence: Redefining the Philosophical Premises of AI. Harvard Data Science Review. https://hdsr.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/mx9vpa0b/release/2
- Cavazzoni, E., XXXX. Paper here that might be relevant? LINK
- Jones, E., 2026. The Problem of Baselining. Biology and Philosophy. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10539-026-10029-5
Outputs
When outputs from the project become available, they will be listed here.
Project Links:
TUM Chair of Philosophy and History of Science and Technology – https://www.sts.sot.tum.de/en/sts/research-groups/philosophy-and-history-of-science-and-technology/
TUM Public Science Lab – https://publicsciencelab.org/
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