Research output per year
Research output per year
Universitetsparken 5, 2100 København Ø
Research activity per year
As a philosopher of science at a Faculty of Science I am engaged in making philosophy of science relevant to science education and for scientific practice.
I was elected member of the European Academy of Sciences in 2018 and corresponding member of l'Academie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences in 2019.
As an active member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Philosophy of Science Association (PSA). European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA) and Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice (SPSP) I have been elected to several officer position, and I have continously been working for increased collaboration between history, philosophy and sociology of science and practicing scientists.
I form part of the management at UCPH as head of the Department of Science Education. In that capacity, I am also engaged in bringing insights from history, philosophy and sociology of science into research policy and higher education management. I am particularly interested in international comparisons of university governance, in the use and misuse of bibliometrics, and in the structure and development of 21st century science, including interdisciplinarity, collaboration, innovation, and responsible conduct of research.
Finally, as a member of the Danish Committee on Scientific Misconduct and of the Panel of independent experts to facilitate replies to technical questions from the general public on a long-term solution for radioactive waste in Denmark, I work to make philosophical reflection on the practice and role of science relevant within the scientific community as well as to the public at large.
Research profile
My primary research interests are the development of science and scientific change, history and philosophy of interdisciplinary and collaborative practices in the sciences, and responsible conduct of science.
I have been PI of the research project "Philosophy of Contemporary Science in Practice" which was funded by the Danish Research Council for the Humanities as part of the program for Female Reseach Leaders; co-team leader (together with Team leader Marcel Weber) of Team B: The life sciences in the ESF research network "The Philosophy of Science in a European Persepctive" ; and PI (together with co-PIs Samuel Schindler and Peter Sandøe) of the Danish Research Network for Philosophy of Science (funded by the Danish Research Council for the Humanities from 2011 to 2015). You can join the network’s groups on Facebook.
I have also served as EiC of the journal Centaurus - the official journal of the European History of Science Society.
You can also find me on Academia.edu and LinkedIn, or visit my Google Scholar Profile.
Upcoming conference and workshop presentations
Recent presentations
Under this heading I am examining collaborative and interdisciplinary practices of science, how these practices have developed and still are developing, how they affect our understanding of expertise, and which implications they have for science education, science policy and science management today and in the future. The aim is to develop a new account of the structure and development of contemporary science.
My publications on philosophy of interdisciplinarity and expertise include
Misconduct and questionable research practices (QRP) are major concerns in contemporary science. Empirical studies show that QRP are widespread, and the steady occurrence of serious misconduct cases reveals that the scientific community still lacks adequate tools for early detection, consistent intervention and, not least, for efficient prevention. To achieve a nuanced understanding of how scientific misconduct and QRP can be detected and corrected as early as possible in the research process, this project combines epistemological analyses of negligence, ignorance, and trust in science with historical case studies and empirical investigations of how scientists perceive negligence and ignorance and on the process during which they become aware of and cope with possible breaches to their trust in collaborators and peers. Results from this endeavour will be used to develop a new kind of training in responsible conduct of research (RCR) that provides scientists in their roles as collaborators, mentors, and peers with adequate tools to detect QRP and to intervene at an early stage.
My publications on philosophy of scientific malpractice include:
The role of history and philosophy of science in science education has been an important topic in science education over the last half century. However, most analyses of philosophy, history and sociology of science and science teaching have focused on how history and philosophy of science can be brought into science education at the K-12 level and in teacher education with the aim of improving the scientific literacy of the general public. In contrast, there have been only few analyses of the possible roles of history and philosophy of science in higher education in the sciences. In this line of work, I am arguing that history and philosophy of science also have important roles to play in higher education. Scientists are continuously required to reflect on scientific knowledge creation as well as on the societal contexts in which scientific knowledge is put to use, and philosophical-analytical skills acquired through the display of historical and contemporary exemplars can therefore improve scientists’ proficiency in identifying and solving the various kinds of epistemological and ethical problems that they encounter qua scientists. In this way, not only can scientific proficiency be seen as a complement to the scientific literacy aimed for in general science education, scientific proficiency also requires that professional scientists acquire a certain philosophical literacy.
Teaching profile
I have taught philosophy of science to students in chemistry, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry nanoscience, human biology, public health, medicine and dentistry.
I supervise projects and theses on interdisciplinarity, collaboration in science, responsible conduct of research, scientific change, scientific controversies,
1998 Ph.D. in philosophy of science, Roskilde University
1992 M.Sc. in physics and comparative literature, University of Copenhagen
2015- |
Professor and Head of Department, Department of Science Education, University of Copenhagen |
2012-2015 |
Professor (with special responsibilities as Centre Director), Centre for Science Studies, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University |
2009-2011 |
Head of Department, Department of Science Studies, Aarhus University |
2005-2009 |
Associate Professor, Department of Science Studies, Aarhus University |
1998-2005 |
Assistant and Associate Professor, Dept. for Medical Philosophy and Clinical Theory, University of Copenhagen, 1998-2002 (Assistant); 2002-2005 (Associate) |
1997-1998 |
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Informatics, The Royal Danish School of Educational Studies |
1994-1997 |
Ph.D. fellowship, Danish Science Research Council |
1994 |
Research fellowship, The Carlsberg Foundation (3 months) |
1992-1994 |
Curator, The Danish National Museum for the History of Science and Medicine (Steno Museet) |
Pre-graduate employment (selection):
1986-1989 |
Student counsellor and administrative officer, University of Copenhagen |
1983-1988 |
Teacher in programming and mathematics, Gentofte Kommunes Ungdomsskole |
2017- |
Member of the European Academy of Sciences, Socio-economic sciences and humanities division. |
Currently member of:
2019-2022 |
Governing Board, Philosophy of Science Association |
2017-2021 |
The Danish Committee on Research Misconduct |
2016-2017 |
The Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty, Committee on Scientific Dishonesty for Natural, Technological and Production Sciences (UNTPF) |
2016-2017 |
Panel of independent experts to facilitate replies to technical questions from the general public on a long-term solution for radioactive waste in Denmark |
2015-2019 |
Elected Member-at-Large, AAAS, Section L |
2002- |
Danish National Committee of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science |
Previously member of (selection):
2012-2013 |
Electorate Nominating Committee, PSA |
2011-2014 |
Electorate Nominating Committee, AAAS, Section L |
2011-2013 |
Steering Committee of the European Philosophy of Science Association |
2003-2009 |
Governing board of the Danish Research School for Philosophy, History of Ideas and History of Science (PHIS) |
2006-2009 |
Deputy head of department |
2005-2008 |
Consultative Board of PhD-studies, Faculty of Science, University of Aarhus |
2002-2005 |
Educational Board of Public Health, University of Copenhagen. Chair of the graduate committee and as such responsible for the development of the Master's programme |
2002-2005 |
Board of the Niels Bohr Archive |
2001-2005 |
Governing board of the Danish Society for Medical Philosophy, Ethics and Methodology |
2001-2002 |
National working group on physics and chemistry education (Arbejdsgruppen for Fysik og Kemi) |
1988-1989 |
Educational Board of Physics, University of Copenhagen |
1984-1986 |
Science Faculty Council, University of Copenhagen |
2008-2012 |
Co-team leader together with Marcel Weber (team leader) of Team B: “The Natural and Life Sciences” in the ESF Research Network “Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective” |
2014 |
The Carlsberg Foundation. Grant in support of the conference SPSP2015. DKK 52.000. |
2013 |
The Danish Council for Independent Research | Humanities. Grant for the project “Danish Research Network for Philosophy of Science”. DKK. 1.007.542. |
2013 |
Aarhus University Research Foundation. Grant for inviting Visiting Professor Theodore Arabatzis. DKK. 123.400 |
2011 |
Aarhus University Research Foundation. Grant for inviting Visiting Professor Douglas Allchin. DKK. 219.844 |
2009 |
The Danish Council for Independent Research | Humanities. Grant for the project “Philosophy of Contemporary Science in Practice”. DKK. 4.883.487 |
2008 |
Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, Visiting fellowship. $5600 |
2000 |
Danish Research Academy. Summer school "Disease, Genes, Reduction". DKK. 125.443 |
1999 |
Danish Humanities Research Council. Research Assistant for the project "Conceptual structures, conceptual change, and early subdiscipline development". DKK. 211.016 |
1998 |
Danish Humanities Research Council. Symposium on the History and Philosophy of Science and Science Teaching 25/9-98. DKK. 18.000 |
1994 |
Stiftung für Bildung und Behindertenförderung. Research visit at Center for the Study of Science in Society, Virginia Tech. DM 4500 |
1994-97 |
Danish Science Research Council. Fellowship. DKK. 672.492 |
1994 |
The Carlsberg Foundation. "Kuhn's philosophy of science in the light of cognitive psychology." DKK. 86.739 |
2014 (fall) |
TU Berlin |
2013 (april) |
Dept. of Philosophy, Universität Konstanz |
2008 (fall) |
Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh |
1996-1997 |
Dept. of Philosophy, Universität Kontanz |
1996(spring) |
Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Berlin |
1994-1995 |
Dept. of Philosophy, Universität Kontanz |
2014- |
Editorial advisory board member, Journal for General Philosophy of Science |
2013- |
Editorial advisory board member, History and Philosophy of Technoscience |
2006-2009 |
Editor-in-chief of Centaurus. International Journal of the History of Mathematics, Science and Technology |
2003-2006 |
Editorial board member, Bibliotek for Læger |
2005 |
Editorial board member, MONA: Matematik Og Naturfagsdidaktik - Tidsskrift for undervisere, forskere og formidlere |
PC chair for CLMPS2019.
Past PC memberships: EuroCogSci2011, EPSA 2011, SPSP2013, CLMPS2015, SPSP2016.
Chair of LOC SPSP2015.
2014-2017 |
Line Edslev Andersen: Social epistemology and mathematical practice: Perspectives on dependence, peer review, and joint commitments, Aarhus University. Degree obtained May 2017 (co-supervisor, main supervisor Henrik Kragh Sørensen). |
2011-2014 |
Mads Paludan Goddiksen: Philosophical Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Science Education: Characterizing important expertises through a practice oriented analysis of integration and explanation, Aarhus University. Degree obtained October 2014. |
2010-2014 |
Sara Green: Systems Biology and the Quest for General Principles : A philosophical analysis of methodological strategies in systems biology, Aarhus University. |
2010-2013 |
Susann Wagenknecht: Collaboration in scientific practice. A social epistemology of research groups, Aarhus University. Degree obtained March 2014. |
2005-2007 |
Kristine Lynning: Kampen om dannelsesbjerget. En analyse af debatter om naturvidenskabernes rolle i det danske gymnasium i forbindelse med skolereformerne i 1903 og 1958, Aarhus University. Degree obtained 2007 (co-supervisor; main supervisor Henry Nielsen, AU). |
2004-2007 |
Anne Paldam Folker: Questions of expertise, the role of nutrition scientists as experts and advisers to the public, KVL. Degree obtained 2007 (co-supervisor; main supervisor Peter Sandøe, KVL). |
2018 |
A new role for integrated history and philosophy of science, &HPS7, Hannover July 5-7, 2018. Keynote. |
2018 |
Training for different types of interdisciplinarity. Pufendorf IAS Symposium on Interidsicplinarity, May 4, 2018. Invited speaker. |
2018 |
Collaborating across disciplines: Negotiating trust, responsibility and quality, AAAS 2018, February 14-18, Texas |
2017 |
Failed interdisciplinarity and what it can teach us, Inter- und Transdisziplinarität: Neue Herausforderungen für die Wissenschaft“, Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald, October 20-21, Greifswald. Invited speaker |
2016 |
Scientific proficiency through philosophical literacy, 1st European IHPSST Conference, Flensburg. August 22-25. Invited plenary |
2016 |
Disentangling discourse on misconduct, SPSP2016, Glassboro, June 17-19 |
2016 |
Nordic Network for Philosophy, 3rd annual conference, Tartu, April 21-23. Invited speaker. |
2016 |
Sollte Wissenschaftstheorie normative sein? 10th anniversary of the Zentrum für Wissenschaftstherie, Universität Münster, January 20, Münster. Invited speaker |
2015 |
The structure of science: From diachronic to a synchronic account, EPSA2015, September 23-26, Düsseldorf |
2015 |
Joint commitments and the distribution of labour in research groups. CLMPS2015, Helsinki, August. |
2015 |
RCR as applied social epistemology. Workshop on Teaching Philosophy of Science to Scientists, June 23, Aarhus. |
2015 |
Authorship responsibility, SRPoiSE, March 27-28, Detroit. |
2014 |
Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity: Mapping the Issues, PSA 2014, November 5-8, Chicago |
2014 |
History of Interdisciplinarity, HSS 2014, November 5-8, Chicago (together with Terry Shinn and Ann Marcovich) |
2014 |
Response and presentation, Symposium “Interdisciplinary Excellence”, Copenhagen, September 9 2014. Invited speaker |
2014 |
Workshop “Teaching the history and philosophy of science and technology in higher education: challenges and experiences at the undergraduate level”, Paris, June 19-20 2014, Invited speaker |
2014 |
Numbering ourselves, Conference “Numbers”, Bergen, June 11-12 2014, Invited speaker |
2014 |
Structure and Development of Contemporary Science, Conference GCTP2014, Amsterdam, May 26-28 2014, Invited speaker |
2014 |
Investigating Entities’ Lifelines, Workshop “Experimentation, Conceptual Change, and Scientific Realism, May 2-3, 2014, Athens. Invited speaker. |
2013 |
Trust, dependence and expertise in contemporary science, Conference on Logic and Philosophy of Science (CLPS13), September 16-18 2013, Ghent. Invited plenary. |
2013 |
Conceptual change across disciplines, ConChaMo 5: Conceptual Change Across Disciplines, June 3-5 2013, Porvoo, Finland. Invited speaker. |
2013 |
Philosophy of science and scientific proficiency, First international conference of the German Society for Philosophy of Science (GWP2013), March 11-14 2013, Hannover |
2012 |
What kind of expertise is needed in interdisciplinary research?, Workshop on “Interdiscplinary Success”, October 4-5 2012, Lund. Invited speaker. |
2012 |
Epistemic dependence and cooperative activity in interdisciplinary research, Conference on “Challenging Philosophy: Interdisciplinary problems and disciplinary philosophy”, PIN Network, Tübingen September 21-23 2012. Invited speaker. |
2012 |
A frame representation of distributed cognition in science, Conference “CTF’12: Concept Types and Frames”, Düsseldorf August 22-24 2012. Invited plenary. |
2012 |
Epistemic dependence in contemporary science, Confernce on “Rethinking science after the Practice Turn”, Nancy June 19-21 2012. Invited speaker |
2011 |
Acting out of line: On Joint accept and unilateral rescission in scientific groups. EPSA 2011, Athens, October 5-8. |
2011 |
Bridging Disciplines: Creation of Concepts in Interdisciplinary Groups. Conference “Bridging Disciplines: Evolution and Classification in Biology, Linguistics and the History of Science, Ulm, Germany, June 24-16. Invited speaker |
2011 |
Concepts, Categories, and Experiments. Workshop “Practical Realism – Towards a Realistic Account of Science”, Tartu, Estonia, June 15-17. Invited speaker |
2010 |
Commentary on Michela Massimi: Natural Kinds and Conceptual Change, Workshop on “Points of Contact between the Philosophy of Physics and the Philosophy of Biology”, European Science Foundation Research Networking Program "The Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective", LSE, December 13-15 |
2010 |
Making Better Scientists, talk in the opening plenary on “The Challenges and Opportunities of Interdisciplinary Teaching”, HSS Annual Conference, Montreal, Nov 4-8 |
2010 |
The Second Essential Tension: Tradition and Innovation in Interdisciplinary Research, Workshop on “Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity: Metaphusical and Epistemological Aspects, Lund. Invited speaker. October 11-13. Invited speaker |
2009 |
Concepts and the generation of knowledge in scientific groups, European Philosophy of Science Association, EPSA09, Amsterdam, October 21-24. |
2009 |
Modelling Collective Belief in Science, 2nd International Conference of the. Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice, Minneapolis, June 16-18. |
2009 |
Concepts, Knowledge, and Groups. Workshop “Scientific Concepts and Investigative Practices”, Berlin, May 22. Invited speaker |
2007 |
History and Philosophy of Modern Epidemiology, Conference in Integrated History and Philosophy of Science, Pittsburgh, October 10-14 |
2007 |
Demarcating misconduct from misinterpretation and mistake, 1st International Conference of the Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice , August 23-25 |
2007 |
Experiments and Concepts, Workshop "Generating Experimental Knowledge" , Wuppertal June 14-17. Invited speaker. |
2004 |
Misrepresentation or Ignorance: The Case of "The Skeptical Environmentalist", Anuual Meeting of the History of Science Society, Austin, November 18-21 |
2004 |
Ignorance or Misconduct? A lesson from "The Skeptical Environmentalist", Research Conference on Research Integrity, San Diego, November 12-14 |
2004 |
A Dynamic Account of Conceptual Structures, International Conference of Philosophy and Cognitive Sciences, Guangzhou, June 23-26. Invited speaker. |
2001 |
Popperian Epidemiology, XVth European Conference on Philosophy of Medicine and Health Care, August 16-18. |
2001 |
The development of family resemblance concepts, MBR-01 (Model-Based Reasoning, Scientific Discovery, Technological Innovation, Values), Pavia, May 17-19. Invited speaker. |
2001 |
Taxonomy and Theory, Cognitive Studies Workshop, University of Virginia, March 24.-27. Invited speaker. |
2000 |
Reference and Resemblance, PSA 2000, Vancouver, November 2-4. |
1999 |
Comment of Harold Brown's "Incommensurability and Reality", International conference on incommensurability (and related matters), University of Hanover, June 13-16. Invited speaker. |
1998 |
Nomic concepts, frames, and conceptual change (with N. Nersessian), PSA 1998, Kansas City, October 22-24 |
1998 |
Unexpected discoveries, graded structures, and the difference between acceptance and neglect, International Congress on Discovery and Creativity, Gent May 14-17 |
1996 |
Noddack Neglected - The 1934 Suggestion of Nuclear Fission, "Discovery of Elements", symposium dedicated to the memory of Walter Noddack and Ida Noddack-Tacke, Leuven, September 16-20 |
2015 |
5th biennial conference of the Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice, June 24-26, Aarhus University (chair of the Local Organizing Committee) |
2012 |
“Empirical Philosophy of Science – Qualitative Methods”, Sandbjerg, March 21-23, 2012 (in collaboration with Susann Wagenknecht) |
2011 |
“Philosophy of Systems Biology”, workshop of Team B: The Natural and Life Sciences, ESF Research Network Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective, August 18-20 (in collaboration with Marcel Weber and Gry Oftedal) |
2011 |
“Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity”, workshop arranged by the Philosophy of Contemporary Science in Practice project, August 16-18 (in collaboration with Susann Wagenknecht) |
2006 |
Symposium "Qualitative methods in the health sciences", May 2006 (in collaboration with Lone Schmidt) |
2003 |
Workshop "Cognitive Studies of Science", May 2003 (in collaboration with Stig Andur Pedersen & Thomas Söderqvist) |
2000 |
Summer school "Disease, Genes, Reduction", University of Copenhagen, September 2000 |
1998 |
Symposium "History and Philosophy of Science and Science Teaching", September 1998 (in collaboration with Thomas Söderqvist) |
1996 |
Summer school "The Relation Between History of Science and Philosophy of Science", Southscandinavian Consortium for Science Studies, July 1996 (in collaboration with Thomas Söderqvist) |
1995 |
Summer school "Reductionism - Antireductionism", University of Aarhus, July 1995 (in collaboration with Helge Kragh and Kurt Møller Pedersen) |
Peer review for the following journals and academic book publishers: Ashgate; Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science; British Journal for Philosophy of Science; Cambridge University Press; Centaurus; Erkenntnis; European Journal for Philosophy of Science; History of Analytical Philosophy; International Studies in Philosophy of Science; Journal for General Philosophy of Science; Journal for Language, Logic and Information; Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal; New England Journal of Medicine, Philosophy and Theory of Biology; Philosophy of Science; Science & Education; Studies in History and Philosophy of Science; Synthese
2009-2010 |
Member of the evaluation panel for the evaluation of basic research in philosophy and history of ideas in Norway, Research Council of Norway |
Peer review for the following research councils: NSF, Faeroe Island Research Council, Ministero dell’Istruzione, Dell’Universitá e della Ricerca Italy, Norwegian Research Council, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Finish Academy, Research Foundation - Flanders
2017 |
Lotta Leden: Black & white or shades of grey: teachers´ perspectives on the role of nature of science in compulsory school science teaching. Malmö University. Committee Member. |
2015 |
Henrik Thorén: The Hammer and the Nail. Interdisciplinarity and Problem Solving in Sustainability Science. Lund University. Committee Member. |
2014 |
Dania Ackermann: Von der Deutschen Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug zum Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre. Wandel und Kontinuitäten institutioneller Identitäten. Ludwig Maximillians University Munich. Co-chair of committee (Aarhus). |
2014 |
Klara Benda: Designing the Sakai Open Academic Environment: A Distributed Cognition Account of the Design of a Large Scale Software System, Georgia Tech. Committee member. |
2014 |
Veli-Pekka Parkkinen: Understanding biological explanation and its practical relevance, Oslo University. Committee member. |
2013 |
Corinne Bloch: Scientific Concepts and Definitions: Epistemic Roles and Referential Stability, Tel Aviv University. Committee member. |
2007 |
Hanne Møller Andersen: Veje til motivation og læring. Et studie af elevers opfattelse af forskellige faktorers betydning for motivation og læring i kemi- og biologi undervisningen på teknisk gymnasium, Aarhus University. Chair of committee |
2005 |
Henrik Knudsen: Konsensus og Konflikt. Organiseringen af den tekniske forskning i Danmark 1900-1960, Aarhus University. Chair of committee |
1992 |
The Danish National Museum for the History of Science and Medicine: "Early experimental physics", "Carthography" and "Nuclear physic (all in collaboration with Keld Nielsen) |
I am fluent in English and German, I can read and understand Norwegian and Swedish, and I can read simple texts in French and Latin. My mother tongue is Danish.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Encyclopedia chapter › Communication
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Encyclopedia chapter › Communication
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Encyclopedia chapter › Communication
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Encyclopedia chapter › Communication
Research output: Book/Report › Anthology › Research › peer-review
Andersen, H. (Other)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture and oral contribution
Andersen, H. (Editor)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editor of Series › Research
Andersen, H. (Other)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture and oral contribution
Andersen, H. (Other)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture and oral contribution
Andersen, H. (Other)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture and oral contribution
Andersen, H. (Participant)
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Andersen, H. (Other)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture and oral contribution
Andersen, H. (Other)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture and oral contribution
Andersen, H. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions
Andersen, H. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions