Skip to main content

MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

  • en
  • de
  • en
  • de
  • Institute

    Institute

    Founded in 1994, the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) in Berlin is one of the more than 80 research institutes administered by the Max Planck Society. It is dedicated to the study of the history of science and aims to understand scientific thinking and practice as historical phenomena.

    • About the Institute
    • About the Max Planck Society
    • Gender Equality
    • Information for People with Disabilities
    • Information for Newcomers
    • Getting Here
    • Contact Us
  • People

    People

    The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science comprises scholars across all Departments and Research Groups, as well as an Administration team, IT Support, Research IT Group, and Research Coordination and Communications team.

    • Staff & Scholars
    • Artists in Residence
    • Journalists in Residence
    • Alumni (Since 2015)
  • Research

    Research

    The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science comprises three departments under the direction of Jürgen Renn (I), Etienne Benson (II), and Dagmar Schäfer (III).

     

    In addition are Research Groups, each directed by one Research Group Leader.

     

    The Institute also comprises of a Research IT Group—specialist in digital humanities—doctoral students, and research and teaching cooperations with other institutions worldwide.

    • I: Structural Changes in Systems of Knowledge
    • II: Knowledge Systems and Collective Life
    • III: Artifacts, Action, Knowledge
    • RGs
    • RG: Validation in the Biomedical Sciences
    • RG: China in the Global System of Science
    • RG: The Final Theory Program
    • RG: Premodern Sciences of Soul & Body
    • RG: Data, Media, Mind
    • -
    • Research IT Group
    • Cooperations
    • International Max Planck Research School
    • Doctoral Research
    • All Projects
    • Past Departments & Research Groups
  • Publications & Resources

    Publications & Resources

    The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) engages with the research community and broader public, and is committed to open access.

     

    This section provides access to published research results and electronic sources in the history of science. It is also a platform for sharing ongoing research projects that develop digital tools.

     

    Researchers at the Institute benefit from an internal library service. The Institute’s research is also made accessible to the wider public through edited Feature Stories and the Mediathek’s audio and video content.

     

    • Publications
    • Library
    • Digital Resources & Databases
    • Mediathek
    • Research Reports
    • Feature Stories
    • About Open Access
  • News & Events

    News & Events

    The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science frequently shares news, including calls for papers and career opportunities. The Media & Press section highlights press releases and the Institute's appearances in national and global media. Public events—including colloquia, seminars, and workshops—are shown on the events overview.

    • Events
    • Institute News
    • Press Releases
    • In the Media
    • Career Opportunities
    • Communications Team

Search and Keywords

Disciplinary groups
Perspectives and Methods
Video
Go to Mediathek Overview
  • Aug 18, 2020
  • 00:06:50

History of Science ON CALL: Betty Smocovitis

  • Betty Smocovitis
  • Cooperation & Communication
  • History of Science ON CALL: Listening, Attending, Acting

 

  

 Portrait Photo Betty SmocovitisDr. Betty Smocovitis, History of Science Professor, discusses the following questions for the History of Science ON CALL project:

  1. What is it about COVID-19 that you find intellectually challenging and interesting?
  2. Is there a question relating to the current crisis that you would like to ask or discuss?
  3. In what way is this outbreak an opportunity to explore relationships between humanity and science?

 

Profile: Betty Smocovitis

Professor Betty Smocovitis, PhD, focuses on the history, philosophy, and social studies of the twentieth-century biological sciences, in particular evolutionary biology, systematics, ecology, and genetics. She also studies the history of the botanical sciences in America. Much of her research concentrates on gaining a better understanding of the “evolutionary synthesis,” which saw the establishment of the modern synthetic theory of evolution. She is currently completing a book-length biography of G. Ledyard Stebbins, as well as a centennial history of the Botanical Society of America.

 

About the History of Science ON CALL Project

History of Science ON CALL aggregates and amplifies two streams of information—Research and Education—relevant to crises, including chronic disasters. The Research stream consists of short-format video interviews while the Education stream seeks to aggregate and introduce known resources and materials—scholarship and teaching tools—in order to amplify their reach.

More about This Project

Knowledge is one of the most important resources for people dealing with crises. To learn more about how the humanities are mobilizing to address the COVID-19 pandemic, visit:

History of Science ON CALL
Betty Smocovitis, Profile at University of Florida Contact Betty Smocovitis
  • Human & Social Sciences
  • Life Sciences
  • Philosophy
  • MPIWG on Covid-19
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Imprint
  • Data Protection
Internal:
  • Intranet
  • Webmail
  • Welcome Page
  • Library
  • User Login

An Institute of
the Max Planck Society for the
Advancement of Science