ISoS News

“Science in Practice and in Society” – under this guiding theme, around 85 researchers from numerous institutions across Germany and Europe gathered on October 24 at the ZiF in Bielefeld to celebrate the launch of the Institute for Studies of Science (ISoS). Founded in May 2025 as a new Central Academic Institute of Bielefeld University, ISoS brings together the Faculty of Sociology, the Medical Faculty, as well as the Departments of Philosophy and History as partners in interdisciplinary science research.

The keynote lectures provided exciting insights into current topics and questions in science studies – from a critical discussion of the foundations of evidence-based policy making, over communication structures in large research projects, to the role of philosophy in the production of scientific knowledge. A roundtable, featuring renowned researchers in science studies, engaged intensively with the conference’s guiding theme and discussed challenges and perspectives on studying the practice of science and its societal embedding.

The programme was rounded off by short lightning talks, in which ISoS researchers offered insights into the thematic diversity of the institute – ranging from animals in the history of technology, through individualization, to open knowledge commons.

As Michaela Vogt – Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Diversity and Society – emphasized in her welcome address, the founding of ISoS reflects and underscores Bielefeld University’s goals of conducting interdisciplinary research, seriously engaging with the role of science in society, and actively addressing the resulting questions and challenges. The opening conference offered a stimulating start for the establishment of ISoS as a platform to bundle and institutionally anchor integrative and interdisciplinary reflection on science at Bielefeld University. The founding conference conveyed – as many participants observed – a sense of momentum in a highly dynamic and interdisciplinary field of research.

The archived programme can be found here: https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/zwe/isos/events/opening-conference

Picture: Participants of the conference.