SAVE THE DATES FOR AUTUMN QUARTER WORKSHOPS
Presentations in the Cultures and Knowledge Workshop Series range across historical and disciplinary boundaries, and provide a major component of SIFK's inquiry into the process of knowledge formation and transmittal from antiquity to the present day. SIFK faculty, postdocs, fellows and guests present research-in-progress for real-time feedback from a broadly cross-disciplinary community of scholars. Presentations take the form of a 45-minute presentation followed by a lively 25 minute discussion, and are open to all members of the University of Chicago community.
Noon-1:20 PM via Zoom
Please see the events calendar https://sifk.uchicago.edu/events/category/15/Workshops/ to register.
Monday, November 1
Of Types and Trees: Evolutionary Thought, Ancient DNA and Research on the Human Past
Hannah Moots
Monday, November 15
The Dog Years: A History of Beagle Science
Brad Bolman
Monday, November 29
Fact Culture: Polling and the Politics of Objectivity
Tal Arbel
Features
Postdoctoral Research Jordan Bimm features in an AP new article discussing the behavior of water molecules in the context of recent footage from Chinese astronauts showing a stagnant glass of water
June 26, 2023
“Water molecules like to stick to glass and also to other water molecules more than they like to disperse in the air,” Jordan Bimm saidIn the Media
IFK’s James Evans features in Nature’s article, Can giant surveys of scientists fight misinformation on COVID, climate change and more?
May 25, 2023
James Evans, a sociologist at the University of Chicago in Illinois, warns that efforts to deliberately find and promote scientific consensus in this way could be counterproductiveFeatures
IFK Faculty Rebecca Willet features in abc7chicago’s article, Looking at AI, ChatGPT: The possibilities and pitfalls of artificial intelligence
May 25, 2023
"At its heart, what it's doing is it's just modeling probabilities. What's the probability of the next word given all of your past words?" Willet said.Features
IFK Faculty Genevieve Lakier features in The Washington Post’s article, The largely forgotten book ban case that went up to the Supreme Court
May 25, 2023
“The line that the court draws is a very fine one,” Lakier said — too fine to settle the matter for good.Features
Ada Palmer features in Tor.com’s article, Jo Walton’s Reading List: April 2023
May 16, 2023
Features
IFK’s Jordan Bimm features in a Conde Naste Traveler’s article, Space Hotels—The Final Frontier for the Ultra Rich
April 27, 2023
As space tourism continues to grow, so does the potential need for somewhere to stay for those who make it there.Features
IFK Postdoctoral Researcher Katherine Buse features in BBC’s article on What The Last of Us, Snowpiercer and ‘climate fiction’ get wrong
April 19, 2023
According to Katherine Buse, there is a mismatch between how climate novelists imagine the future and how climate scientists forecast it.Features
IFK Faculty Rebecca Willett features in WBBM’s episode, Is AI friend or foe? Experts weigh in
April 19, 2023
WBBM Newsradio's Rob Hart on Tuesday hosted a live forum with experts about the pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence tech, including the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT.In the Media
IFK’s William Howell Features in MailChimp’s article, Hey Chicago by CITY CAST
April 13, 2023
William Howell in a series of questions helps break down whether we need a 50 person city-councilAnnouncements
IFK’s William Howell awarded 2023 Guggenheim Fellowships
April 13, 2023
Prof. William Howell is among the 171 Fellows selected in this year’s class from nearly 2,500 applicants to the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.Features
Adam Cifu on Ending Medical Reversal
March 30, 2023
Why do so many medical practices that begin with such promise and confidence turn out to be either ineffective at best or harmful at worst? IFK's Adam Cifu explores this with EconTalk's Russ RobertFeatures
IFK’s James Evans features in The Economic Times in an article on the drop of tech breakthroughs from 1945-2010
February 27, 2023
"We have extremely ordered science," Evans said. "We bet with confidence on where we invest our money. But we're not betting on fundamentally new things that have the potential to be disruptive."Features
Ada Palmer’s IFK features in a Forbes article on Ben Reinhardt’s mission to make Sci-Fi a reality
February 27, 2023
Since his days as an undergrad, Reinhardt’s been trying to build the world as it could be, one filled with the imaginings of science fiction novels like Ada Palmer’s Terra Ignota Series.In the Media
IFK’s Tom Ginsburg to chair the University of Chicago’s new Center for Freedom of Expression
February 27, 2023
The center will develop leaders who “champion” and “advance” free expression, adopt curricula that “promotes free expression” and serve as a model for other higher education institutionsIn the Media
IFK’s Jordan Bimm with CBS News Chicago discuss the unidentified objects recently shot down over North America
February 23, 2023
Unidentified Objects: Here's what we know. Watch the interview here