Past Talks (2011-2021)
2021
"The Limits of Current Machine Learning Models in Olfaction" PhilinBioMed seminar, Bordeaux (zoom), October 13
"Rage against the What? Biology as the Origin of Machine Metaphors" (with Matthew Rodriguez), Philosophy and Neuroscience at the Gulf IV, Pensacola, September 24
"Better than we think? The Sense of Smell as a Model for Theories of Perception," University of Milan, Philosophy, May 5
"Mozell's chromatographic theory: A molecular basis of cognitive behavior?" (video), AChemS / Association for Chemoreception Sciences, April 19
“Nothing to Sneeze at: The Limits of Machine Learning in Olfaction,” On-line Chats Philosophy & The Life Sciences (MSU), April 8
"Minding the Nose: More than meets the AI?"(video recording), Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science Colloquium, March 12
Jaipur Literature Festival, February 23 jaipurliteraturefestival.org/speaker/as-barwich
"Rage against the What? Biology as the Origin of Machine Metaphors" (with Matthew Rodriguez), Philosophy and Neuroscience at the Gulf IV, Pensacola, September 24
"Better than we think? The Sense of Smell as a Model for Theories of Perception," University of Milan, Philosophy, May 5
"Mozell's chromatographic theory: A molecular basis of cognitive behavior?" (video), AChemS / Association for Chemoreception Sciences, April 19
“Nothing to Sneeze at: The Limits of Machine Learning in Olfaction,” On-line Chats Philosophy & The Life Sciences (MSU), April 8
"Minding the Nose: More than meets the AI?"(video recording), Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science Colloquium, March 12
Jaipur Literature Festival, February 23 jaipurliteraturefestival.org/speaker/as-barwich
2020
"Minding the Nose: More than meets the AI ?" Ben-Gurion University, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, December 14
“How Biology perceives Chemistry: Smells as Environmental Kinds,” Philosophy and Neuroscience at the Gulf III (virtual), October 9 • “Reductionism in the living brain, not as difficult as you think,” part of the Symposium “Tools before Theories? Three Perspectives from Different Fields of Neuroscience” (with John Bickle, Eric Hochheim and Joseph McCaffrey, Nedah Nemai), Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SSPP), University of Kentucky (virtual), December 5
“The Sense of Smell as a Model for Theories of Perception ,“ Philosophy in the Library, Brooklyn Public Library (virtual), October 21
“Better than we think? The Sense of Smell as a Model for Theories of Perception,” Leibniz University Hannover (virtual), Institute of Philosophy, Colloquium talk, July 7
"Imaging the living Brain: Reductionism revisited in times of dynamical systems" Tools and Technology in Neuroscience"; Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, January 24th-25th
Accepted but cancelled because of COVID :
“Imaging the living brain: Reductionism past the resting state,” pafrt of the Symposium “ ‘Sometimes you can observe a lot by watching’: Imaging individual neurons” (with John Bickle and Lauren Ross), 8th Biennial Conference of the Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice at Michigan State University (SPSP)
“How Biology perceives Chemistry: Smells as Environmental Kinds,” Philosophy and Neuroscience at the Gulf III (virtual), October 9 • “Reductionism in the living brain, not as difficult as you think,” part of the Symposium “Tools before Theories? Three Perspectives from Different Fields of Neuroscience” (with John Bickle, Eric Hochheim and Joseph McCaffrey, Nedah Nemai), Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SSPP), University of Kentucky (virtual), December 5
“The Sense of Smell as a Model for Theories of Perception ,“ Philosophy in the Library, Brooklyn Public Library (virtual), October 21
“Better than we think? The Sense of Smell as a Model for Theories of Perception,” Leibniz University Hannover (virtual), Institute of Philosophy, Colloquium talk, July 7
"Imaging the living Brain: Reductionism revisited in times of dynamical systems" Tools and Technology in Neuroscience"; Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, January 24th-25th
Accepted but cancelled because of COVID :
“Imaging the living brain: Reductionism past the resting state,” pafrt of the Symposium “ ‘Sometimes you can observe a lot by watching’: Imaging individual neurons” (with John Bickle and Lauren Ross), 8th Biennial Conference of the Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice at Michigan State University (SPSP)
2019
"Olfaction, More than meets the AI?" Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering (SICE) Informatics Colloquium Series, Indiana University Bloomington, November 15
"Imaging the living Brain: Reductionism revisited in times of dynamical systems"
Tool Development in Experimental Neuroscience: A Science-in-Practice Workshop, Hilton Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Beach, Fl, September 28, 2019
"When your data requires new theory: A novel behavioral measure of olfactory responses (and its challenges)." Workshop: Measurement in cognitive science; organized by Insa Lawler (Bochum) and Edouard Machery (Pittsburgh); University of Bochum, June 5.
"The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain?" Centre for the Study of the Senses, School of Advanced Study, University of London, May 1.
"The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain?" Purdue University, January 22
"The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain?" Carnegie Mellon, January 14
"The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain?" Indiana University Bloomington, January 7
"Imaging the living Brain: Reductionism revisited in times of dynamical systems"
Tool Development in Experimental Neuroscience: A Science-in-Practice Workshop, Hilton Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Beach, Fl, September 28, 2019
"When your data requires new theory: A novel behavioral measure of olfactory responses (and its challenges)." Workshop: Measurement in cognitive science; organized by Insa Lawler (Bochum) and Edouard Machery (Pittsburgh); University of Bochum, June 5.
"The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain?" Centre for the Study of the Senses, School of Advanced Study, University of London, May 1.
"The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain?" Purdue University, January 22
"The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain?" Carnegie Mellon, January 14
"The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain?" Indiana University Bloomington, January 7
2018
"Technologies of Taste", Panel at the 2018 HSS Annual Meeting (History of Science Society), Nov 1-4, Seattle: “Smelling Flavor” Ann-Sophie Barwich; "Modeling Flavor” Crystal Lee; “Efficiency and Flavor" Victoria Lee; “Removing Flavor" Hannah LeBlanc; “Monitoring Flavor” Christy Spackman;Discussant: Deborah Fitzgerald
"The Science of Smell: Field(work) without a Discipline" Presidential Scholars Research Symposium: 3rd-Year Presentations and Reception. Columbia University, April 30
“The Nose as a Window to the Mind,” Invited Speaker at the 40th meeting of AChemS (Association for Chemoreception Sciences); Presidential Symposium: "Back to the Future: From Past discoveries to Future Directions,” Bonita Springs, Florida, April 18-21, 2018 (Co-panelists: Gordon Shepherd, Linda Bartoshuk, Stuart Firestein).
“The Odor of Things: The Sense of Smell as a New Model for Studies of Mind and Brain,” University of Exeter, February 8
“The Odor of Things: The Sense of Smell as a New Model for Studies of Mind and Brain,” San Francisco State University, January 18
Commentator, "Smells as Secondary Qualities." APA Eastern Division Meeting (American Philosophical Association), Savannah, GA, January 3-6, 2018
"The Science of Smell: Field(work) without a Discipline" Presidential Scholars Research Symposium: 3rd-Year Presentations and Reception. Columbia University, April 30
“The Nose as a Window to the Mind,” Invited Speaker at the 40th meeting of AChemS (Association for Chemoreception Sciences); Presidential Symposium: "Back to the Future: From Past discoveries to Future Directions,” Bonita Springs, Florida, April 18-21, 2018 (Co-panelists: Gordon Shepherd, Linda Bartoshuk, Stuart Firestein).
“The Odor of Things: The Sense of Smell as a New Model for Studies of Mind and Brain,” University of Exeter, February 8
“The Odor of Things: The Sense of Smell as a New Model for Studies of Mind and Brain,” San Francisco State University, January 18
Commentator, "Smells as Secondary Qualities." APA Eastern Division Meeting (American Philosophical Association), Savannah, GA, January 3-6, 2018
2017
"Olfaction as a Model for Neuroscience: How Your Brain Is Making Scents – And Why It Matters." Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Indiana University Bloomington, November 9
“What are Odors: Qualitative Objects or Qualitative Relations?” UK Semiochemistry Network Workshop, Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge, July 18-19
Symposium Organizer & Moderator: "The Human Sense of Smell." With Barry Smith, Clare Batty, Donald Wilson, Avery Gilbert, Christophe Laudamiel. Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America, Columbia University, April 13
"Scent Track: What can the History of Olfaction tell us about Theorizing in the Life Sciences?" New York City History of Science Consortium Lecture Series, New York, April 26
"Smell as a Model System. A Philosophical Study at the Bench." (Talk in honor of Maria Inés Velazco) Firmenich SA, Princeton NJ, March 23
"The Science of Smell: A Philosophical Study at the Bench." Presidential Scholars in Society and Neuroscience Research Symposium, Columbia University, February 13
“What are Odors: Qualitative Objects or Qualitative Relations?” UK Semiochemistry Network Workshop, Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge, July 18-19
Symposium Organizer & Moderator: "The Human Sense of Smell." With Barry Smith, Clare Batty, Donald Wilson, Avery Gilbert, Christophe Laudamiel. Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America, Columbia University, April 13
"Scent Track: What can the History of Olfaction tell us about Theorizing in the Life Sciences?" New York City History of Science Consortium Lecture Series, New York, April 26
"Smell as a Model System. A Philosophical Study at the Bench." (Talk in honor of Maria Inés Velazco) Firmenich SA, Princeton NJ, March 23
"The Science of Smell: A Philosophical Study at the Bench." Presidential Scholars in Society and Neuroscience Research Symposium, Columbia University, February 13
2016
Poster: "Making Sense of Smell: Olfaction as a Model System in Neuroscience." Envision Conference, Princeton University, December 2-4
“The Imitation Game: What does 'Recognition' in Mechanisms of Molecular Recognition mean?” Philosophy of Science Association, 2016 meeting, Atlanta, November 3-5
"Whatever the Method? PCR and the Discovery of the Olfactory Receptors." Many Methods – One Biology, Center for Advanced Studies, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, October 20-22
“Fashion Fades, Only Chanel No. 5 Remains the Same: A Chemical History of Style and Technology.” ISPC2016 (20th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Philosophy of Chemistry), Florida Atlantic University, August 1-4
"Philosophy at the Bench: Olfaction as a Model System for Neurobiology." Neuroscience Institute Special Seminar, NYU Langone Medical Center (Rinberg Lab), July 27
"Imagine there is a controversy and no one participates: Philosophical failures in science narratives.” Model(ing) Controversies in Science, National University of Singapore, March 15 & 17
"Vials and Vinaigrettes: The Manipulation of Odour in 18th-century French Science and Society." With D. Bilak (Columbia University) at the Dutch-Belgian Society of Eighteenth-Century Studies Annual Conference-Conference “Flavours of the Eighteenth Century”in Brussels, March 10-11
"Manipulability and Entity Realism in Wet-Lab Research: The Story of G-Protein Coupled Receptors." With K. Bschir (ETH Zurich), The History of Science and Contemporary Scientific Realism, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, February 19-21
"Olfaction as a modern experimental system: A philosophical study at the bench." New York Medical College, February 3
“The Imitation Game: What does 'Recognition' in Mechanisms of Molecular Recognition mean?” Philosophy of Science Association, 2016 meeting, Atlanta, November 3-5
"Whatever the Method? PCR and the Discovery of the Olfactory Receptors." Many Methods – One Biology, Center for Advanced Studies, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, October 20-22
“Fashion Fades, Only Chanel No. 5 Remains the Same: A Chemical History of Style and Technology.” ISPC2016 (20th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Philosophy of Chemistry), Florida Atlantic University, August 1-4
"Philosophy at the Bench: Olfaction as a Model System for Neurobiology." Neuroscience Institute Special Seminar, NYU Langone Medical Center (Rinberg Lab), July 27
"Imagine there is a controversy and no one participates: Philosophical failures in science narratives.” Model(ing) Controversies in Science, National University of Singapore, March 15 & 17
"Vials and Vinaigrettes: The Manipulation of Odour in 18th-century French Science and Society." With D. Bilak (Columbia University) at the Dutch-Belgian Society of Eighteenth-Century Studies Annual Conference-Conference “Flavours of the Eighteenth Century”in Brussels, March 10-11
"Manipulability and Entity Realism in Wet-Lab Research: The Story of G-Protein Coupled Receptors." With K. Bschir (ETH Zurich), The History of Science and Contemporary Scientific Realism, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, February 19-21
"Olfaction as a modern experimental system: A philosophical study at the bench." New York Medical College, February 3
2015
"Olfaction as a model system for neurobiology: GPCRs and Mapping Smells in the Brain." Center for Bits and Atoms, MIT (Mershin Lab), December 9
"Why we need to think about Failure in Science." University of Bristol, Department of Philosophy, December 2
"Success is not equal to progress: Why Failure is integral to Science." Wagner Conference 2015, University of Reno, November 12-14
Organizer & Moderator: "Understanding Cognition through Development: What Do Animals, Children, and Science Have in Common?" With Kristin Andrews, Diana Reiss, Peter Gordon. Seminars in Society & Neuroscience, Columbia University, November 2
"Reality as a relational property: The story of G-protein coupled receptors" With K. Bschir (ETH Zürich), EPSA 2015 (European Philosophy of Science Association), The Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, September 22-27
"The Problem of Co-ordination ≠ The Problem of Standardisation: What Sensory Measurement Is (Not)." The Making of Measurement, University of Cambridge, July 23-24
" Simply Failure or Delayed Success? Mapping Smells in the Brain." Symposium: Failure in Science. With Stuart Firestein and Isabella Sarto-Jackson), Ishpssb, UQAM, Montreal, July 5-10
"Why we need to think about Failure in Science." University of Bristol, Department of Philosophy, December 2
"Success is not equal to progress: Why Failure is integral to Science." Wagner Conference 2015, University of Reno, November 12-14
Organizer & Moderator: "Understanding Cognition through Development: What Do Animals, Children, and Science Have in Common?" With Kristin Andrews, Diana Reiss, Peter Gordon. Seminars in Society & Neuroscience, Columbia University, November 2
"Reality as a relational property: The story of G-protein coupled receptors" With K. Bschir (ETH Zürich), EPSA 2015 (European Philosophy of Science Association), The Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, September 22-27
"The Problem of Co-ordination ≠ The Problem of Standardisation: What Sensory Measurement Is (Not)." The Making of Measurement, University of Cambridge, July 23-24
" Simply Failure or Delayed Success? Mapping Smells in the Brain." Symposium: Failure in Science. With Stuart Firestein and Isabella Sarto-Jackson), Ishpssb, UQAM, Montreal, July 5-10
2014
“Evo-Devo and Olfaction: Developing Process Categories for Perception." Process Philosophy of Biology, Egenis (Centre for the Study of the Life Sciences), University of Exeter, November 20-21
“How Philosophy matters to Science (And why you shouldn’t listen to philosophers. Talk to them.)” Firestein Laboratory, Columbia University, New York, November 12
“A Fine Nose for Timeliness: The Discovery of the Olfactory Receptors and the Question of Novelty.” Philosophy of Science Association, 2014 meeting, Chicago, November 6-9
"Is Captain Kirk a natural blonde? The limits of fiction and what they can tell us about modeling in science." Philosophy of science and aesthetics conference, University of Leeds, September 5-6
Respondent: “Ontologies of Protein-Ligand Binding Complexes.” (Speaker: Isabella Sarto-Jackson) Ontological Issues in the Life Sciences (Third European Advanced Seminar in the Philosophy of the Life Sciences), KLI Institute Klosterneuburg, September 1-5
"Sensing the Unknown: Historicising the Discoverability of the Olfactory Receptors within the Life on an Experimental System." Integrated History and Philosophy of Science 5, University of Vienna, Vienna, June 26-28
"The Standard Observer”: Humans as Measurement Instruments for the Quantification of Qualities. The Case of Olfaction as a Diagnostic Tool for Neurodegenerative Diseases." Quality & Quantity: Limits of Quantification in the Sciences (30th Altenberg Workshop in Theoretical Biology), KLI Institute, Klosterneuburg, June 11-14
"The Discovery of the Olfactory Receptors and the Question of Novelty." Philosophy of Science Conference, Dubrovnik, April 14-19
"What would MacGyver do? Experimental Tools and the Discovery of the Olfactory Receptors." Philosophy of Biology in the UK 2014, University of Cambridge, March 3- April 1
“How Philosophy matters to Science (And why you shouldn’t listen to philosophers. Talk to them.)” Firestein Laboratory, Columbia University, New York, November 12
“A Fine Nose for Timeliness: The Discovery of the Olfactory Receptors and the Question of Novelty.” Philosophy of Science Association, 2014 meeting, Chicago, November 6-9
"Is Captain Kirk a natural blonde? The limits of fiction and what they can tell us about modeling in science." Philosophy of science and aesthetics conference, University of Leeds, September 5-6
Respondent: “Ontologies of Protein-Ligand Binding Complexes.” (Speaker: Isabella Sarto-Jackson) Ontological Issues in the Life Sciences (Third European Advanced Seminar in the Philosophy of the Life Sciences), KLI Institute Klosterneuburg, September 1-5
"Sensing the Unknown: Historicising the Discoverability of the Olfactory Receptors within the Life on an Experimental System." Integrated History and Philosophy of Science 5, University of Vienna, Vienna, June 26-28
"The Standard Observer”: Humans as Measurement Instruments for the Quantification of Qualities. The Case of Olfaction as a Diagnostic Tool for Neurodegenerative Diseases." Quality & Quantity: Limits of Quantification in the Sciences (30th Altenberg Workshop in Theoretical Biology), KLI Institute, Klosterneuburg, June 11-14
"The Discovery of the Olfactory Receptors and the Question of Novelty." Philosophy of Science Conference, Dubrovnik, April 14-19
"What would MacGyver do? Experimental Tools and the Discovery of the Olfactory Receptors." Philosophy of Biology in the UK 2014, University of Cambridge, March 3- April 1
2013
“If you can spray them, then they are real: Evidence Construction in Fragrance Chemistry.” Ishpssb 2013, Montpellier, July 8
“The Application of Theoretical Models and Strategies of Evidence Construction in Fragrance Chemistry.” British Society for the Philosophy of Science, University of Exeter, July 4-5
“The Descent of Scent: Model Thinking in Olfaction Theory.” Egenis, University of Exeter, March 25
“Modelling Evidence: Theory Assessment in Olfactory Research.” Konrad Lorenz Institute, Vienna, March 21
“The Application of Theoretical Models and Strategies of Evidence Construction in Fragrance Chemistry.” British Society for the Philosophy of Science, University of Exeter, July 4-5
“The Descent of Scent: Model Thinking in Olfaction Theory.” Egenis, University of Exeter, March 25
“Modelling Evidence: Theory Assessment in Olfactory Research.” Konrad Lorenz Institute, Vienna, March 21
2012
"Making Sense of Smell: Models in Olfaction Theory - Ex vivo, in vivo, in vitro, in silico." Second Advanced Seminar in the Philosophy of the Life Sciences, Brocher Foundation, Geneva, September 10-14
"The Scientification of Scent: Modeling the Mechanism of Primary Odour Recognition." British Society for the Philosophy of Science, University of Stirling, July 4-6
"Bending the Rules or Bending the Molecules: Contemporary Issues in Olfaction Theory." 7th annual integrated HPS workshop, UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies, June 28-29
"Get a whiff of this! Modelling the Mechanism of Primary Odor Recognition." Models and Simulations 5, University of Helsinki, June 14-16
"The Scientification of Scent: Modeling the Mechanism of Primary Odour Recognition." British Society for the Philosophy of Science, University of Stirling, July 4-6
"Bending the Rules or Bending the Molecules: Contemporary Issues in Olfaction Theory." 7th annual integrated HPS workshop, UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies, June 28-29
"Get a whiff of this! Modelling the Mechanism of Primary Odor Recognition." Models and Simulations 5, University of Helsinki, June 14-16
2011
"Natural Kind Terms as Sign Functions." Natural Kinds in Philosophy and in the Life Sciences: Scholastic Twilight or New Dawn? University of Granada, September 7-9
"Science and Fiction: On the Reference of Models." SPSP Conference, University of Exeter, June 22-24
"Science and Fiction: On the Reference of Models." Defending Realism. Ontological and Epistemological Investigations, University of Urbino, June 20-22
"Representing Knowledge: On the Epistemic Condition of Reference." Integrated HPS workshop, University of Cambridge, April 18-19
"Science and Fiction: On the Reference of Models." SPSP Conference, University of Exeter, June 22-24
"Science and Fiction: On the Reference of Models." Defending Realism. Ontological and Epistemological Investigations, University of Urbino, June 20-22
"Representing Knowledge: On the Epistemic Condition of Reference." Integrated HPS workshop, University of Cambridge, April 18-19