The Erasmus Seminar Series was launched in November 2022, in celebration of the diverse intellectual life of the College. The series fills a gap in scope and scale between the ambition of the Darwin Lecture Series and the intimacy of the Research Seminars. A seminar is held termly, and is open to all College members.
The Master, Dr Mike Rands, said of the new series:
“In an exciting new development for Darwin College, I’m delighted we are launching the Erasmus Seminar series. This draws upon the College’s deep intellectual strengths, interdisciplinary and international outlook and research rich environment to hear and discuss a topic of great significance for society and especially our academic community.”
Upcoming seminar:
7 February 2024
Professor Simon Schaffer
Colonial natures and climate sciences
6pm, Bradfield Room
The topic looks at the historical sources on which climate sciences drew in the period around 1800: the theme emerges from work Professor Schaffer has been contributing to the Leverhulme Project on ‘Making Climate History’, in the department of History and Philosophy of Science and the department of Geography.
Simon Schaffer was trained in Natural Sciences and History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge and Harvard University. He has taught History of the Sciences at Imperial College London, at UCLA and at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and Sarton Medallist of the History of Science Society, and a Fellow of Darwin College. His research addresses the practices, materials and organisation of scientific inquiry between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, including studies of astronomy, natural philosophy, technology and the physical sciences. Professor Schaffer has collaborated with several museum and gallery projects. He is currently a co-investigator on the Leverhulme Project ‘Making Climate History’.
Previous seminars:
23 November 2022
Professor Catherine Barnard
What happens when enforcement doesn’t happen: Brexit, free movement and … Great Yarmouth
8 February 2023
Professor Jonathan Heeney
How to prevent the next pandemic
10 May 2023
Dr Jennifer Schooling
Smart Infrastructure
1 November 2023
Professor Chris Bishop
The Dawn of Artificial General Intelligence
