5 February 2021 — 12:00 noon — online

Iván Chaar López (UT—American Studies)

“Networked Asymmetries in Stories of Technoscience”

The history of cybernetics has often displaced non-White actors and women from its accounts. Recentering them generates new understandings of the entanglements between computing, electronics, and racial formations. In paying attention to the racialized and gendered labor of these actors, this talk analyzes networked asymmetries, or the uneven associations and differential arrangements through which actors are enrolled in the making of technoscience—both as story and artifact.

_____________________

Iván Chaar López is an assistant professor in Digital Studies in UT’s Department of American Studies. His research and teaching examine the politics of digital technologies. He is especially interested in the place of Latina/o/xs as targets, users, and developers of digital lifeworlds.

_____________________

Register in advance for this meeting: https://utexas.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUocO6przMpGN3B9g3V9MXP02bN9J_cyk0b

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

13 November 2020 — 12:00 noon — online

John Wallingford (UT–Molecular Biosciences)

“Reconsidering Buddhist Embryology as Science History”

It has not gone unnoticed in recent times that the history of science is heavily Eurocentric. A striking example can be found in the history of developmental biology, the science of embryonic development. Textbooks and popular science writing frequently trace an intellectual thread from Aristotle through a small handful of 19th century German pioneers to 20th century genetics and 21st century genomics. Few historians and fewer still biologists are aware, however, of the depth and breadth of early embryological thinking outside of Europe. Here, I provide a series of vignettes highlighting the rich history of embryological thinking in early Asia. The impact of this body of thought on the “development” of modern developmental biology is unclear, but I contend that because culture shapes our thinking, these early Asian studies have significant implications for the modern practice. My goal is to provide an entertaining, even provocative, synopsis of an important but understudied topic, with the hope that this work will spur others to more thorough investigations.

____________________

John Wallingford holds the William and Gwyn Shive Endowed Professorship in UT’s Department of Molecular Biosciences. His work combines in vivo imaging with systems biology to explore the cell biological basis of embryonic development. He also has a strong interest in the history of embryology and associated sciences.

____________________

Register in advance for this meeting: https://utexas.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJctf-mtpzkjG9SJRPOx4ZehQefq04BG64vL
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.