Areas of Research
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Publications
2023. “Better Online Discussion Boards through Questions, Metacognition, and Motivation” in American Association of Philosophy Teachers Studies in Pedagogy. Volume 9. Welcoming Newcomers: Teaching for Novice Philosophy Students, edited by Jake Wright.
2023. “Idealizations in Astrophysical Computer Simulations” with Regy-Null Arcadia in Philosophy of Astrophysics: Stars, Simulations, and the Struggle to Determine What is Out There. Springer, Synthese Library Book Series. eds. Nora Mills Boyd, Siska De Baerdemaeker, Kevin Heng, and Vera Matarese.
- YouTube Video: Idealization and Representation in Astrophysical Computer Simulations talk for Bristol Centre for Science and Philosophy (January 2022)
- Facebook Video: Idealization and Representation in Astrophysical Computer Simulations LTT talk for Pittsburgh’s Center for Philosophy of Science (Feb 2021)
2022. “Idealization, Representation, and Explanation in the Sciences” with Elay Shech and Martin Zach in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science: Special Issue on Idealization, Representation, and Explanation in the Sciences.
- Introduction to Special Issue, co-edited with Elay Shech and Martin Zach. Special Issue Table of Contents for full issue can be found here.
2021. “ΛCDM and MOND: A Debate about Models or Theory?” in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science: Special Issue on Dark Matter and Modified Gravity.
2021. “Dark Matter & Dark Energy” in The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Physics. Routledge eds. Eleanor Knox and Alastair Wilson.
2021. “Divergence of Values and Goals in Participatory Research” with Lucas Dunlap, Amanda Corris, Zvi Biener, and Angela Potochnik in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science: Special Issue: Values and Pluralism in the Environmental Sciences: From Inferences to Institutions.
- YouTube Video: March 2020 (paper-in-progress) co-presentation with A. Potochnik at University of Dayton’s Doing Science in a Pluralistic Society (41m).
2020. “Observations, Simulations, and Reasoning in Astrophysics” in Philosophy of Science.
- YouTube Video: February 2022 companion review lecture to paper for European Southern Observatory (ESO)’s ASTRO2022: The Present and Future of Astronomy Workshop (30m).
- YouTube Video: 2020 Guest lecture & companion video to paper for undergraduate courses (38m).
2020. “Bearing the Brunt of Structural Inequality: Ontological Labor in the Academy” with Ann Cahill and Ruthanne Crapo, Feminist Philosophy Quarterly.
2019. “Diversity is Not Enough: The Importance of Inclusive Pedagogy” with Rebecca Scott, Kevin Hermberg, and Stephen Bloch-Schulman in Teaching Philosophy.
- Awarded the 2020 Lenssen Prize for Best Article on Teaching Philosophy by the American Association of Philosophy Teachers.
2018. “The Dark Galaxy Hypothesis” with Michael Weisberg, Barry Madore, and Marja Siedel in Philosophy of Science.
2018. Learning About Reality Through Models and Computer Simulations. Invited book review for Science & Education of Reconstructing Reality: Models, Mathematics, Simulations by Margaret Morrison.
2017 Teaching Philosophy Graduate Students about Effective Teaching. with Jessey Wright in Teaching Philosophy.
2016 Similarity, Adequacy, and Purpose: Understanding the Success of Scientific Models. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Western Ontario
2015 Active Learning Online Module. with Herra, A., Little, L., Morris, Z., Oliver, S., and Traill, K. Principles of Course Design Series. Queens, Waterloo, Western D2L Partnership Project.
2012 The Scientific Method. with Fred Kronz in Leadership in Science and Technology: A Reference Handbook. SAGE Publications ed. William Bainbridge.
Works in Progress
A short manuscript on the role of models and computer simulations in physics
- YouTube Video: Dark Matter, Computer Simulations, and Philosophy of Astrophysics Colloquium talk from May 2022 at the Harvard Black Hole Initiative in which I discuss some of these themes.
A short manuscript on Theory and Practice of Public Engagement with Science (with Angela Potochnik)
A short manuscript on modes of public engagement for academic researchers conducting science outreach (with Amanda Corris, Andrew Evans, Tim Elmo Feiten, Collin Lucken, and Angela Potochnik)
A paper on pure dark matter galaxies
An astronomy object catalog of ring galaxies
Public Talks, Media Coverage, & Non-Academic Writing
2022. “Grant supports UC pilot program that couples science with humanities” UC News feature article on Whiting Public Engagement Fellowship Project
2022. “Philosopher Melissa Jacquart Awarded a Whiting Programs Fellowship” News Press Release, & Blog of the American Philosophical Association (APA)
2022 “Congratulations to our URC awarded faculty scholars” UC Findings Feature on 2022 URC Award recipients.
2022. Alloy Discussion Public Talk: “Sensing Space in Virtual Times” (YouTube) Panelist, Livestream, UC’s Institute for Research in Sensing (IRiS).
2020 “The Philosopher’s Role in Science Communication” written interview with myself and Angela Potochnik for PhilSciComm.
2020 “Research Stories Behind the Funds” interview/feature by UC Findings Newsletter.
2018 “Philosophen blicken ins All” (translated “Philosophers look into Space”) article by Sybille Anderl for the German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) Woche magazine.
2017 “Teach Graduate Students How To Teach” with Jessey. Wright. Blog of the APA
2014 “The Public Interest and Government Funding of Science” Rotman Institute of Philosophy Blog, Series on Science and the Public Interests
2013 “Improving Scientific Literacy Through Improved Critical Thinking Skills” Rotman Institute of Philosophy Blog, Series on HPS and Science Education
2012 “Women in Science, Philosophy, and Education: An Interview With Rotman Doctoral Entrance Scholar, Melissa Jacquart” Rotman Institute of Philosophy Blog