About Us

Science has been described as being both realistic and disconnected from reality, as threatened and threatening, as undervalued and overrated, as expensive and lucrative, as elitist and democratic. As contradictory as these conceptions may be – hardly anybody in our 'knowledge society' can remain unaffected by science. How is it that the sciences have such a crucial role in society?

Focal areas of research of the Chair for Science Studies include the importance of images and visual media in the history of knowledge, the history of brain research, cybernetics, human science and biology, as well as the culture of the humanities with particular attention to their material instruments of thought such as books, archives, and writing tools.

The Chair for Science Studies forms part of the Center for the History of Knowledge and collaborates closely with the Chairs of the Center and the external page NCCR Iconic Criticism/ eikones in Basel.