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“Science in Practice and in Society” – under this guiding theme, around 85 researchers from numerous institutions across Germany and Europe gathered on October 24 at the ZiF in Bielefeld to celebrate the launch of the Institute for Studies of Science (ISoS). Founded in May 2025 as a new Central Academic Institute of Bielefeld University, ISoS brings together the Faculty of Sociology, the Medical Faculty, as well as the Departments of Philosophy and History as partners in interdisciplinary science research.

The keynote lectures provided exciting insights into current topics and questions in science studies – from a critical discussion of the foundations of evidence-based policy making, over communication structures in large research projects, to the role of philosophy in the production of scientific knowledge. A roundtable, featuring renowned researchers in science studies, engaged intensively with the conference’s guiding theme and discussed challenges and perspectives on studying the practice of science and its societal embedding.

The programme was rounded off by short lightning talks, in which ISoS researchers offered insights into the thematic diversity of the institute – ranging from animals in the history of technology, through individualization, to open knowledge commons.

As Michaela Vogt – Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Diversity and Society – emphasized in her welcome address, the founding of ISoS reflects and underscores Bielefeld University’s goals of conducting interdisciplinary research, seriously engaging with the role of science in society, and actively addressing the resulting questions and challenges. The opening conference offered a stimulating start for the establishment of ISoS as a platform to bundle and institutionally anchor integrative and interdisciplinary reflection on science at Bielefeld University. The founding conference conveyed – as many participants observed – a sense of momentum in a highly dynamic and interdisciplinary field of research.

The archived programme can be found here: https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/zwe/isos/events/opening-conference

Picture: Participants of the conference.

Dr. Sasha Bergstrom-Katz and Dr. Michele Luchetti, members of the ISoS, are organizing an event titled Performing Science and Medicine at Berlin Museum of Medical History at the Charité in Berlin on November 15. 

Join for an evening of artistic interventions on the relationship between performance and knowledge in the lab, the clinic, and the public realm, featuring the work of artist-researchers Dr. Alex Mermikides, Lucie Strecker and Mariella Greil. The event will take place in the scenic Ruin Hall of the Berlin Museum of Medical History at Charité and will conclude with a conversation moderated by Prof. Dr. Lara Keuck and event organizers Dr. Sasha Bergstrom-Katz and Dr. Michele Luchetti. The event not only features the work of these fantastic thinkers and makers, but also celebrates over a year of conversations in the working group also titled “Performing Science and Medicine.”

• Participation is free, but registration is required.
• Tickets can be found at: https://bmm-charite.de/en/exhibitions/performing-science-and-medicine
• Further, you can find more information about the event and the working group at: https://www.performingscienceandmedicine.com/
• For questions, please contact: michele.luchetti[at]uni-bielefeld.de

Lara Keuck, member of the ISoS executive board and professor of history and philosophy of medicine at Bielefeld University, is involved in a new European doctoral network funded with around 4 million Euros under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of Horizon Europe. The TRANSCEND Network was initiated and conceptualised by Lara Keuck together with Klaus Eyer and Linda Douw with the support of a Branco Weiss Collaborative Grant.

TRANSCEND brings together researchers at eleven sites, ranging from biomedical sciences over AI and psychology to philosophy to develop and evaluate a new transdisciplinary approach to translational research on autism spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis. A key idea of TRANSCEND is to recognize – rather than reduce – the complexity of chronic neurological disorders and diseases as a crucial aspect in translational research. The Bielefeld sub-project will be located at the newly founded Institute for Studies of Science (ISoS).

Embracing complexity instead of reducing it

TRANSCEND draws on the idea that traditional reductionist methods have inherent limitations when it comes to researching complex and multifactorial disorders and diseases. Therefore, instead of focusing on isolated disease components or symptoms, TRANSCEND adopts a holistic approach that takes into account patient-relevant outcomes at early stages of the research process and considers the diversity of disease and symptom experiences. The goal is to develop new transdisciplinary strategies for translational biomedical research.

Interdisciplinary focus

The doctoral network follows an interdisciplinary approach which combines critical philosophical reflection with current biomedical research. Within the doctoral network, various projects and learning activities from biomedical sciences, neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy will be brought together. Additionally, TRANSCEND plans transdisciplinary work packages and collaboration with stakeholders from politics and industry. One of the currently advertised positions will be located in Lara Keuck’s History and Philosophy of Medicine research group at Bielefeld University. The job posting can be found here.

Located at the newly founded Institute for Studies of Science (ISoS)

In Bielefeld, TRANSCEND will be based at the Institute for Studies of Science (ISoS), which was established as a Central Academic Institute at Bielefeld University in May 2025. ISoS brings together researchers from sociology, political science, philosophy, and history to engage in interdisciplinary reflection on science, its practice and social dimension.

Each semester, ISoS organizes the ISoS Lectures, a lecture series aiming at fostering interdisciplinary reflection on science across various disciplines and research fields. The programme for the winter term 2025/26 is now available. We look forward to welcoming you to the ISoS Lectures.

In May 2025, ISoS was officially founded as a Central Academic Institute at Bielefeld University. On October 24, 2025, ISoS will host its inaugural conference "Science in Practice and in Society" at the ZiF in Bielefeld. For further information, please visit the conference website.

The directors of ISoS talk about the founding of ISoS as a Central Academic Institute at Bielefeld University. The interview can be found here.