The Center for Science Writings
About the CSW
Launched in 2005, the Center for Science Writings (CSW) hosts talks by authors of books on pressing science-related issues, from climate change to mental illness. Speakers—be they scientists, humanities scholars or journalists—deliver free, public lectures each and every semester.
The CSW is part of the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
The founder and director of the CSW is veteran science journalist John Horgan, author of the bestseller “The End of Science” and other books. A long-time writer for Scientific American, he also comments on science-related issues on his website
Upcoming Talks
The CSW has scheduled two talks for Spring 2024:
“Can Physics Solve Consciousness?”
Wednesday, February 14, 4-5 pm EST, Via Zoom
Physics writer George Musser will discuss his new book “Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation,” a deep dive into physicists’ efforts to show how mind emerges from matter. Physicist and bestselling author Carlo Rovelli calls Musser’s book “a delightful account of one of the deepest and most fascinating explorations going on today at the frontier of our knowledge.”“How Being Disabled Changed How I See Technology”
Wednesday, March 20, 4-5 pm EST, Via Zoom.
Ashley Shew, a professor of science and technology studies at Virginia Tech, will discuss her book “Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement,” in which she reveals how cancer-induced disabilities made her rethink technology’s potential and limits. Bestselling science writer Ed Yong calls Shew “authoritative, witty, thoughtful, and unafraid to throw a punch.”
Faculty Interviews
John Horgan also carries out Zoom interviews with HASS colleagues to learn more about their research and publications.
Recent interviews featured science historian Samantha Muka, author of “Oceans Under Glass”; philosopher Gregory Morgan, author of “Cancer Virus Hunters”; and philosopher Michael Steinmann, author of “Reframing Ethics Through Dialectics.”
Past Speakers
Past speakers at the Center for Science writings include world-renowned intellectuals: neurologist Oliver Sacks; psychologist Steven Pinker; historian Naomi Oreskes; philosophers Martha Nussbaum and Kwame Anthony Appiah; geographer Jared Diamond; biologist Edward O. Wilson; oceanographer Sylvia Earle; economist Jeffrey Sachs; risk analyst Nassim Nicholas Taleb; physicist Sabine Hossenfelder; and social activist Naomi Klein.
Note to Students
A note to Stevens freshmen taking introductory engineering courses: be sure to talk to your professors about the Center for Science Writings, as many grant credit for attending select events.
Contact
For more information about the Center for Science Writings, contact John Horgan at [email protected].