Labroots is excited to announce The Life of Her Mind, a new video series focusing on the lives, perspectives, career pathways, and research of women working across STEM fields.
The series is hosted by Labroots Science Writer Mia Wood, Ph.D., who is a philosophy professor and writer living and working at the intersection of philosophy and everything else. Among her relevant interests are the philosophy of early modern science, the nature of consciousness, and personal identity.
The Life of Her Mind is dedicated to learning about how these women think — how they think about their careers, disciplines, and future. Each episode focuses on a single professional working in or around the sciences, with an eye toward uncovering what makes each individual’s contributions unique.
In our inaugural conversation, we had the opportunity to speak with Alice Dreger, PhD. Dr. Dreger is an historian and philosopher of science, a journalist, and an activist. One of those rare thinkers who draws her readers into complex and controversial topics as if they’re just hanging out, jawing over a couple of drinks, Dreger’s work makes people question long held “scientific” doctrine. In doing so, she forces them to consider that these beliefs are rooted in political bias as much as anything else.
Trained in the history and philosophy of science, Dr. Dreger is the author of four books (editor of five, many, many articles, and even many more talks). Dreger’s work reveals a fascinating combination of serious scholar, old school muckraker, and prodigious instigator – a modern day Socrates. Indeed, Dreger is unafraid to ask how and why people believe what they do.
Dr. Dreger began her career as an academic focused on analyzing the history of medical approaches to infants born with non-specific genitalia. This work led her to become an advocate for intersex people, those born with combinations of male and female biological traits. Dreger realized early on that social norms often influenced scientific investigation and the interpretation of evidence – all too often to the detriment of those individuals who did not fit neatly into “normal” categories.
For Dreger, truth is worth fighting for, tirelessly, and without fear or favor. Indeed, some of Dreger’s advocacy work has brought her into direct conflict with groups on various sides of the issue at hand. Undaunted, Dreger continues her work.
The Life of Her Mind continues October 11th with Dr. Alyssa Rhoden!
