CFP: Graduate Conference at the University of Toronto in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology 2027

The Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IHPST) at the University of Toronto is pleased to announce the call for papers for our annual graduate conference. This year our theme is Janus-Faced Science: Models, Metaphors, and (Mis)representations. Please see below for details. Submissions are due December 4, 2026.

Janus is a two-faced Roman god often taken to symbolize opposites and contrasts. Models, metaphors and (mis)representations in science have a similar kind of duality: the search for truth sometimes requires turning a blind eye to the false assumptions made in the process. This conference explores the ways in which such practices can facilitate and distort scientific understanding.   

We welcome proposals related to models, metaphors, and (mis)representations from graduate and early-career scholars in history, philosophy, and broader humanistic studies of science. Below are questions we are interested in: 

• Are idealizations just stepping stones towards the truth, or are they themselves ever the end goal?
• How does acknowledging false assumptions change the ways in which science is viewed, used, or practiced? 
• When have scientists explicitly decided to make assumptions in their work and how did they justify their decisions?
• How do measurements or representations of invisible phenomena influence our understanding of processes we cannot directly observe?
• How can we think critically about the relationship between theoretical or idealized constructs, and reality? 
• How are specific communities differentially impacted by the benefits or harms of scientific idealisation?
• How does the use of idealizations in science impact science communication, funding, or policy?

The conference will take place on April 2-3, 2027 at the University of Toronto. Accepted proposals will be matched with a University of Toronto faculty commentator who will provide feedback on the presentation. Those accepted will also have the option to publish their paper in the conference proceedings alongside the faculty commentary in our graduate journal Spontaneous Generations (https://spontaneousgenerations.com)

Application instructions:

• Proposals are due by December 4, 2026 and can be submitted using this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdF4Ur2MBHgEtgl9AN_2vNYsCeuWFQGziCgzxJBGoqbvJ2l6Q/viewform.  
• We intend to respond to all proposals by January 11, 2027. 
• Proposals should be about 500 words (references excluded). 
• Clearly state the main argument of the presentation and how it connects to the conference theme. 
• Once accepted, participants must provide a full paper (max. 8000 words) by February 26, 2027. 
• The conference will be a hybrid format. Please specify whether you would like to attend virtually through Zoom or on-site in Toronto (we will prioritize in-person papers). 
• There is no conference fee, and we are unable to cover travel or accommodation costs. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].  

Hongyu Chen, Rebecca Muscant, Kye Palider, and Luna Wang

IHPST Graduate Conference Organization Team  

University of Toronto