Is the public image of who contributes to science diversifying? Over the last years various types of media are disavowing traditional narratives of men in locations of power as the sole generators of knowledge, such as the movie Hidden Figures in theatres last year, starring African-American mathematicians working in the U.S. space program during the 1960s. Users of social media are unfolding serious critiques in playful guise via hashtags like #ILookLikeAProfessor and #ILookLikeAHistorian. The emerging attention for issues of diversity and inclusion in knowledge production appeals to historical and social studies of science: can they contribute to this development in a meaningful way – and should they?

Questions like these are explored in short presentations and a panel discussion during this public event. Speakers: prof. dr. Mineke Bosch, dr. Patricia Faasse and prof. dr. Amade M’charek. Moderator: dr. Fenneke Sysling.

Mineke Bosch is professor of Modern History at the University of Groningen and works at the intersection of history of science and women’s studies

Patricia Faasse is senior researcher at the Rathenau Instituut. She authored a biography of Johanna Westerdijk, the first female professor in The Netherlands (Atlas/Contact, 2012).

Amade M’charek is a professor of anthropology of science at the University of Amsterdam. Her research focuses on the entanglement of genetics and race in forensic and scientific practices.

Moderator: Fenneke Sysling is a researcher at Utrecht University specialized in the history of science, race, colonialism and the self.

Doors open: 19.30
Start Program: 20:00

This public event is the conclusion of a closed day program with lunch lecture and workshop on (history of) science and diversity organized by Leiden University.

Registration