CFP: HPS Winter School & Australia/New Zealand Philosophy of Biology Workshop

The University of Sydney’s History and Philosophy of Science Program is inviting submissions to take part in their 2026 Winter School. This year, the winter school is hosting the fourth annual Australia/New Zealand Philosophy of Biology (ANZPB) workshop, with further support from the International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB) as an ISHPSSB off-year workshop.

The workshop will be held from 30th June-3rd July 2026 at the Quarantine Station in Sydney Harbour, Australia -situated on the traditional lands of the Gayamaygal people. The event will include short and long talks with a focus on highlighting work by graduate students, early career researchers and visiting scholars. In addition to research talks, the program will include early-career focussed discussion sessions.

We welcome submissions from those wishing to give a talk on any topic in the philosophy, history and social studies of biology. Priority for speaking slots will be given to submissions from graduate students and early career researchers. 

Abstracts of no longer than 200 words should be submitted here by 13 April 2026.

The School of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Sydney is in the Faculty of Science where it has been contributing historical and philosophical perspectives to scientific insight since 1942. The HPS Winter School is part of HPS's goal to bring together international humanities and science scholars for network-building and ongoing collaboration. ISHPSSB is an international organisation bringing together scholars the life sciences, history, philosophy, and social studies of science. The biennial ISHPSSB summer meetings are held during odd-years, and the society supports workshops such as this one during off-years.

ANZPB aims to provide a regular workshop for the philosophy of biology community across Australia and New Zealand, and this year thanks to the generous support from both the HPS winter school and ISHPSSB , we wish to extend invitations to international participants, particularly early-career researchers.

We are pleased to offer limited travel subsidies for graduate students and early-career scholars presenting at the conference. Applications for funding can be made using the same link above.  

We have booked the Quarantine Station (Q station) for the event. This is easily reachable from Sydney by public ferry, and from Sydney airport by train and ferry. Transport details will be posted shortly on the event website.

Further information about the meeting is available at https://anzphilbio.weebly.com/. If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact [email protected]