Jane Maienschein specializes in the history and philosophy of biology and the way biology, bioethics, and bio-policy play out in society. She also serves as Fellow and directs the History and Philosophy of Science Project at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Professor Maienschein and her team focus on the history and underlying assumptions in development, genetics, and cell biology. They analyze epistemological standards, theories, and laboratory practices and combine that with their studies of people and institutions, as well as the changing social, political, and legal context in which science thrives.
She served as fellow with the U.S. House of Representatives during the 105th Congress. Professor Maienschein has filled many leadership roles at ASU and with professional societies including as president of two international organizations, panels with NIH, NSF, NEH, and committees at the National Academy of Sciences. Founder and director of the Biology and Society Program and Center, she promotes education and research at the intersection of biological science and society, with an emphasis on effective communication about science.
Jane Maienschein specializes in the history and philosophy of biology and the way that biology, bioethics and biopolicy play out in society. Focusing on research in embryology, genetics, and cytology. Maienschein combines detailed analysis of the epistemological standards, theories, laboratory practices and experimental approaches with study of the people, institutions, and changing social, political and legal context in which science thrives.
See http://embryo.asu.edu and http://history.archives.mbl.edu
Center for Biology and Society
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Last 5 years:
What is Regeneration?, with Kate MacCord, University of Chicago Press, March 2022
Why Study Biology by the Sea?, edited with Karl Matlin and Rachel Ankeny (University of Chicago Press,
2020)
The Ark and Beyond: The Evolution of Zoo and Aquarium Conservation, edited with Ben Minteer and James Collins (University of Chicago Press, 2018)
Visions of Cell Biology: Reflections on Cowdry’s General Cytology, with Karl Matlin and Manfred Laubichler (University of Chicago Press, 2018)
With Steve Elliott and Kate MacCord, “Help with Data Management for the Novice and Experienced Alike, in Grant Ramsey and Andrea De Block, editors, The Dynamics of Science: Computational Frontiers in History and Philosophy of Science. University of Pittsburgh Press, forthcoming 2022
With Kate MacCord, “Explaining Regeneration: Cells and Limbs as Complex Living Systems, Learning from History,” Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2021: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.734315
With Kate MacCord, “The Historiography of Embryology and Developmental Biology,” in Michael Dietrich, Mark Borello, and Oren Harman, editors, Handbook for the History of Biology (Springer, 2021). Online first: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74456-8_7-1.
“Why Have Biologists Studied at the Seashore? The Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory,” in Karl Matlin, et al., editors, Why Study Biology by the Sea?, (University of Chicago Press, 2020).
With Abraham Gibson and Manfred Laubichler, “Computational History and Philosophy of Science,” ISIS (2019) 110: 497-501.
With Manfred Laubichler and Jürgen Renn, “Computational History of Knowledge: Challenges and Opportunities,” ISIS (2019) 110: 502-512.
With Kate MacCord, “Philosophy of Biology: Understanding Life at Different Scales, eLife 8 (March 13, 2019): https://elifesciences.org/articles/46569.
With Kate MacCord, “The Marine Biological Laboratory,” eLS (John Wiley and Sons, 2018). Online publication. doi 10.1002/9780470015902.a0027989
“History and Philosophy of Science Engaging the Public,” in Françoise Baylis and Alice Dreger, editors, Bioethics in Action (Cambridge University Press, 2018).
“Changing Ideas about Cells as Complex Systems,” in Karl Matlin, Jane Maienschein, and Manfred Laubichler, editors. Visions of Cell Biology: Reflections on Cowdry’s General Cytology (University of Chicago Press, 2018), pp. 15-45.
“Cell Lineages in Ontogeny and Phylogeny,” in Brian K. Hall and Sally A. Moody, editors, Cells in Evolutionary Biology: Translating Phenotypes into Genotypes -- Past, Present, Future. CRC Press, 2018, pp. 51-70.
Current Funded Activity:
NSF, PI with Karl Matlin and Manfred Laubichler, “Synthetic Cells and Rules of Life in Historical, Philosophical, and Social Contexts,” 2020-2023
NSF, with Mary Elting, Saad Bhamia, and Fred Chang, "Collaborative Research: CYBORG cells: Modular integration of synthetic organelles into living cells," 2019-2023 (PI for ASU component)
James S. McDonnell Foundation, co-PI with Kate MacCord, “Understanding Regeneration across Scales,” 2019-2024
Webster Foundation, PI with Karl Matlin, “History of Biology at the MBL,” 2018-2023
Spring 2022 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 314 | Rsch Colloquium/Biology/Soc I |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
MBB 493 | Honors Thesis |
HPS 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 497 | Honors Colloquium |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
Fall 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HPS 496 | Undergraduate Thesis |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
BIO 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
Summer 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
Spring 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 314 | Rsch Colloquium/Biology/Soc I |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
MBB 493 | Honors Thesis |
HPS 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 497 | Honors Colloquium |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
Fall 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HPS 496 | Undergraduate Thesis |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
BIO 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
Summer 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
Spring 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 314 | Rsch Colloquium/Biology/Soc I |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
MBB 493 | Honors Thesis |
HPS 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 497 | Honors Colloquium |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
Fall 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
HPS 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HPS 496 | Undergraduate Thesis |
HON 497 | Honors Colloquium |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
BIO 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
Summer 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
Spring 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 314 | Rsch Colloquium/Biology/Soc I |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
MBB 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
HPS 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 497 | Honors Colloquium |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
Fall 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
HPS 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 497 | Honors Colloquium |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
BIO 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
Summer 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
Spring 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 314 | Rsch Colloquium/Biology/Soc I |
BIO 414 | Rsch Colloquium/Bio/Society II |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
MBB 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
HPS 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
HPS 495 | Undergraduate Research |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 497 | Honors Colloquium |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
Fall 2017 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 497 | Honors Colloquium |
BIO 498 | Pro-Seminar |
HPS 498 | Pro-Seminar |
BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HPS 591 | Seminar |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
HPS 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
BIO 620 | Research Prospectus Writing |
Last 5 Years:
“Regeneration Across Scales,” ISHPSSB, Oslo, 2019
“130 Years of Biology at the MBL,” Northeastern Society for Developmental Biology meeting, 2019
“Embryos in History: Diverging Meanings of Life,” University of California at Irvine, 2019
“History and Philosophy of Science Really Do Matter for Policy and Law,” American Philosophical Association, Central Division meeting, 2019.
“History, Philosophy, and Regeneration Research,” Philosophy in Biology and Medicine international workshop, Bordeaux, France, 2018.
“Embryos in the Public Eye: What do Historians, Philosophers, and Science Studies Scholars have to add?,” University of Oslo Science Studies Program.
“In So Many Words: The MBL Convening Science Book Series,” MBL Library, 2018
Panelist on “On Writing: Craft and Profession,” History of Science Society meeting, 2017
“CRISPR in the Context of Developmental Biology: A Century+ of Engineering Life, Michigan State University, 2017
With Kate MacCord and Steve Elliott, “Research, Outreach, and Education Systems: The HPS Repository, Embryo Project, and MBL History Project, Philosophy of Science Association, 2016
Presentation to National Academy of Sciences Planning Committee on Gene Editing, Washington DC, 2015 (presented in absentia by Robin Lovell-Badge), Washington, DC, 2015
Contributor to “Historians of Science in the Public Sphere,” History of Science Society meeting, 2015
Panelist for Joint Caucus for Socially Engaged Philosophy and History of Science evening panel, History of Science Society meeting, 2015
“A Century of Cells,” ISHPSSB meeting, 2015
“What do Wound Repair, Chimeras, and Embryonic Stem Cells Have in Common?,” Logic, Methology, and Philosophy of Science meeting, 2015
“Revisiting Cowdry’s General Cytology. Looking Back to See Ahead,” Cell Symposium, Marine Biological Laboratory, 2014 and follow up 2015
“Biology and Society at Arizona State,” Michigan State University Vice President for Research Office, 2014
“How T.H. Morgan Misled Gar Allen about Development,” Garland Allen Retirement Fest Washington University, 2014
“Is there Anything New about Astrobiology and Society?,” Library of Congress Astrobiology Conference, 2014
“Looking at Cells, Seeing Complex Systems,” University of Vienna Philosophy Symposium for the Institute Vienna Circle, and &HPS meeting, 2014
“Thinking about Cells and Development,” Harvard University Center for Vascular Biology Visiting Professor Series, 2014
“Evolutionary Developmental Biology and Michael Ruse,” University of Toronto, 2014
“A History of Rich Collaboration: The University of Chicago and Marine Biological Laboratory,” keynote address, MBL-University of Chicago retreat, keynote address 2014
“Looking at Cells Around 1900, Seeing Complex Systems,” University of Chicago, 2014
David L. Hull Prize, International Society for HIstory, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology, 2015
AAAS Fellow and Featured Member, 2014
Arizona Professor of the Year, CASE and Carnegie Foundation for the Advnacement of Teaching, 2010
HIstory of Science Society Joseph Hazen Education Award, 2000
Sarton Lecture, History of Science Society, 1996
Various ASU awards, especially for teaching
Series Editor, MBL Book Series, University of Chicago Press
Biology and Philosophy, Associate Editor, 1993-2016; Editorial Board 2016-present
Cambridge University Press Studies in the Philosophy of Biology, Advisory Board, 1993-2009
Isis, Editorial Board, 2009-2012
Journal of Experimental Zoology, Part B, Editorial Board, 2006-2012
Journal of the History of Biology, co-editor with Garland Allen, 1998-2006; Editorial Board 1991-1998; Book Review Board, 1985-1998
Philosophy of Science, Editorial Board, 2009-2015
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow, and various offices American Association for Women in Science, Fellow and past board member History of Science Society, President 2008-2009 and many offices International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology, President 1989-1991 and many offices Philosophy of Science Association, past governing board member Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, past division chair and executive council David
Marine BIological Laboratory, Fellow and Director of History Project ASU since 1981 Senior Fellow, Dibner Institute for History of Science and Technology, MIT, 2002 Congressional Fellow to Congressman Matt Salmon, 105th Congress Stanford University, Visiting Associate Professor, 1987 Harvard University, Visiting Scholar, 1983-1984 Dickinson College, 1978-1980