Table
of Contents:
- President's
Letter
-
PSA26
General Updates
- PSA26
Registration
- PSA26
Calls for Chairs
and Volunteers
-
AAAS/SciLine Media
Training
Workshop
-
PSA
Elections
- Philosophers
of Science at
Work: Exploring
Non-Academic
Careers
- Upcoming
Events
|
|
|
|
Dear
Members,
Before
we get to news and
updates, I want to
highlight two
related issues.
The
first is the US
Office of
Management and
Budget’s May 29
proposed revisions
to the Guidance
for Federal
Financial
Assistance. With
bombings,
wrestling matches,
and the World Cup
dominating the
news, it is easy
for such a dry
document to go
unnoticed.
However, if
enacted, these
changes would have
grave consequences
for science,
academia, and
professional
societies like
ours.
The
OMB proposes to
reshape US
research funding
in ways that would
negatively impact
philosophers of
science but also
academics at
large, both
national and
global. For
example, it would
make funding
decisions face
mandatory
political review
that refers to
categories such as
“anti-American
values” and
compliance with
“the President’s
policy
priorities.” The
proposals would
enshrine guilt by
association by
punishing
researchers who
work at
institutions that
have been judged
discriminatory,
even if the
researcher
themself did
nothing wrong. It
would negatively
impact lawful DEI
policies, open
access funding,
international
collaboration, and
more.
For
these reasons, the
PSA submitted an
official Comment
to the federal
government
objecting to OMB’s
proposals.
Philosophers of
science recognize
that values affect
research funding.
Yet we point out
that there is a
substantial
difference between
(1) democratically
setting broad
research
priorities and (2)
by-passing
Congress and
screening research
with ill-defined
and variable
political litmus
tests. OMB’s
proposals are
eerily similar to
some of history’s
most egregious
examples of
ideological
interference in
science. You can
read the full
Comment here. We are also signatories to similar
letters from the
American Council
of Learned
Societies and the
International
Association of
Scientific,
Technical &
Medical
Publishers.
With
a more challenging
public funding
landscape there is
more pressure to
obtain funding
from private
sources. That
brings me to the
other item,
namely, that the
PSA is actively
reviewing and
updating our gift
review and
transparency
policies. About
two weeks ago
Cailin O’Connor
and I drafted an Open
Letter calling
for the field of
philosophy to
better protect its
research integrity
(see also the Science note).
The threat of Big
Tech capturing AI
ethics motivates
our letter, but
the issue is more
general. Vested
interests can
influence
philosophy, but
our field’s
conflict-of-interest
policies are
nowhere near state
of the art. The
letter targets
journals, but it
also mentions that
the “discipline of
philosophy” as a
whole should
reflect on what
policies would
best protect the
integrity of our
research. So does
the International
Science Council’s
recent position on
funding
transparency,
which explicitly
mentions that
“learned
societies” share
this burden. The
enthusiastic
response to the
letter helps
motivate the need
for a careful
review and
updating of the
PSA’s policies.
Finally,
let me warmly
congratulate those
newly elected to
posts in PSA, both
its presidency and
governing board
(see below).
Sincere thanks to
all who decided to
run for a
position. Let me
also thank those
behind the scenes
who make these
elections happen,
especially the
members of the
Nominating
Committee. We’re
very fortunate to
have so many
talented generous
volunteers.
Sincerely,
Craig
Callender
|
Please
see the June
Newsletter for
more information
about any of the
following:
PSA26 Travel Grants
Child Care
Hotel Reservations
Hotel Room Sharing
Calls for Awards
|
PSA26 Registration Now
Open
|
Registration
for the PSA26
San Diego
meeting is open!
The early bird
phase of
registration will
end on September
1, 2026, at which
point prices will
increase. Please
visit the event
site for
more details and
to register for
the meeting. As
always, the most
economical
solution to
registration is to
be a member of the
PSA so please make
sure your
membership is
current!
|
PSA26
Call for Chairs
and Volunteers
|
Want to chair
a session at PSA
2026? We are
looking for
volunteers to chair
symposia and
contributed paper
sessions. This is a
great way to
participate on the
main program and
provide a valuable
contribution to the
quality of the
conference. Session
chairs help to
ensure that the
conference sessions
flow smoothly (and
on time!!),
including moderating
respectful
discussions.
Preference will be
given to individuals
who are not
on the main program
(symposia &
contributed papers),
so please circulate
this call widely to
colleagues and
students who might
be interested.
(Please note that
session chairs must
have either finished
their Ph.D., or
completed all the
coursework in their
Ph.D. program (i.e.,
be ABD). MA students
are not eligible to
chair.)
Please indicate your
willingness and
availability here, and we hope to see you all in
San Diego at PSA
2026!
|
The PSA is also
offering free
registration
to qualified
graduate volunteers.
Are you a graduate
student and wish to
receive free
conference
registration in
exchange for
volunteer service
helping attendees
register and
speakers set up
their rooms? For one
shift of light
service, you can
attend the PSA for
free.
Interested? Sign up
using our volunteer
signup form
and indicate which
days and times you
are available. This
opportunity is first
come first serve and
is contingent upon
completion of
service. All
volunteers must be
members of the
Philosophy of
Science Association.
As a token of
appreciation, all
volunteers and
chairs will be
invited to attend
the Jessica Pfeifer
PSA Volunteer
Breakfast featuring
valuable networking
opportunities and a
free meal!
|
AAAS/SciLine
Media Training
Workshop -
deadline
extended
|
Signup
deadline has been
extended to August
1st!
On Wednesday,
November 18, 2026
from 1pm - 5pm the
PSA Outreach &
Engagement Committee
will host a
pre-conference AAAS
| SciLine Media
Training Half-day
Workshop ahead of
the 30th
Biennial Meeting
of the Philosophy
of Science
Association in San
Diego, CA.
Sharing
Science with the
Media Workshop
You know the
scholarship, but
conveying it
effectively to the
public takes skill,
preparation, and
practice. Many
academics want to
serve as a source
for journalists, but
at the same time,
feel intimidated,
lack confidence, or
are concerned about
facing hostile
interviewers or
publics. Through
presentations,
discussions, and
hands-on activities,
this workshop will
guide participants
through the most
important things to
know about the media
ecosystem and how to
interact with it
effectively as a
source. We’ll cover
language choices
that will make your
work more accessible
to lay audiences,
developing messages
and working them
into responses to
interview questions,
what you need to
know about the media
landscape, and how
to navigate and
survive
uncomfortable
interview questions
and situations.
This workshop is
presented by SciLine,
a program of the
American Association
for the Advancement
of Science (AAAS)
with a mission of
enhancing the amount
and quality of
scientific evidence
in news stories.
Click
here for more
details and to
apply!
|
2026
PSA Election
Results
|
|
|
|
The
2026 PSA election is
complete, many
thanks to everyone
who participated!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Congratulations to Hasok
Chang,
who will serve as
President-Elect of
the PSA starting on
January 1, 2027
before assuming the
role of President on
January 1, 2029.or
your content.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We would also like
to extend
congratulations to
and welcome Agnes
Bolinska
and Nora
Boyd
to the Governing
Board. Their terms
will start January
1, 2027.
|
|
|
|
|
Philosophers
of Science at
Work: Exploring
Non-Academic
Careers
|
Please save the date
and consider joining
us on August 19th
from 2pm - 3pm (EDT)
for the next
installment of Philosophers
of Science at
Work: Exploring
Non-Academic
Careers. This
session will be
focused on
developing a CV and
application
materials that are
effective in a
non-academic
context. More
information and
registration link
forthcoming!
|
|
|
|
|
