Images and the techniques for creating them have been essential to the sciences over many centuries. Scholars from across the humanities have used visual representations as a lens to explore the sciences from the perspective of visual cultures and thus illuminate processes and frameworks of knowledge-production. Taking a visual-culture perspective, this working group aims to go beyond the representational functions of visual images to include the materiality, production, use, and dissemination of images. We will consider the wider practices, tools and methods, skills, and infrastructures that support visual representations.
This working group invites a wide range of scholars from different fields to discuss works that examine the various roles of images in the history of science, technology, and medicine. The group will discuss work in progress (papers, chapters, projects) representing a broad range of topics and fields from natural history, the life sciences, and the medical sciences. While contributions will be discussed individually, we intend to explore the unifying question of how images have changed over time and across geographical regions and cultures of knowledge-production. In particular, we are interested in how their changing meanings as epistemic tools have subsequently transformed communities of knowledge, scientific ideas and reasoning, technologies, and medical and scientific applications and practices, and vice versa, how these helped turn epistemic tools into rhetorical tools, distributing science to larger audiences.
Consortium Respectful Behavior Policy
Participants at Consortium activities will treat each other with respect and consideration to create a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment that is free from any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
Participants will avoid any inappropriate actions or statements based on individual characteristics such as age, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, nationality, political affiliation, ability status, educational background, or any other characteristic protected by law. Disruptive or harassing behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Harassment includes but is not limited to inappropriate or intimidating behavior and language, unwelcome jokes or comments, unwanted touching or attention, offensive images, photography without permission, and stalking.
Participants may send reports or concerns about violations of this policy to conduct@chstm.org.