A Celebration of New Books
When and Where
Speakers
Description
Elise Burton is a historian of the life sciences, focusing on developments in genetics, evolutionary biology, physical anthropology, and medicine.
Her book, Genetic Crossroads: The Middle East and the Science of Human Heredity (2021), shows how Middle Eastern peoples—both as scientific actors and research subjects—played an important role in the history of human
genetics.
Elizabeth Koester is a historian of medicine and eugenics.
Her book, In the Public Good: Eugenics and Law in Ontario (2021), examines three legal processes that were used to advance eugenic ideas in Ontario between 1910 and 1938: legislative bills, provincial royal commissions, and the criminal trial of a young woman accused of distributing birth control information.
Mark Solovey is a historian of the social and psychological sciences.
His book, Social Science for What? Battles over Public Funding for the "Other Sciences" at the National Science Foundation (2020), examines the contested position of the social sciences at this major U.S. science agency, showing how battles over public funding are crucial for understanding the recent history of the social sciences and debates over their scientific status and social value.
Marga Vicedo is a philosopher and historian of science who writes about evolution, genetics, animal studies, psychology, and psychiatry.
Her book, Intelligent Love: The Story of Clara Park, Her Autistic Daughter and the Myth of the Refrigerator Mother (2021), tells the story of how Park and other parents fought against medical and popular attitudes toward autism while presenting a rich account of major scientific developments in the history of autism in the US.
