Perry World House Names Philosophy Professor Michael Weisberg Inaugural Penn Faculty Fellow

Philadelphia—Perry World House has chosen Michael Weisberg, Professor and Chair of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, to serve as the inaugural Perry World House Penn Faculty Fellow for the 2019-20 academic year. Weisberg, who is also the co-director of the Penn Laboratory for Understanding Science and the Galápagos Education and Research Alliance, will be in residence at Perry World House for the year exploring policy-relevant questions about the nature of science.

“We’re thrilled to have Michael in residence next year: he’s a cutting-edge scholar, global thinker, and committed Penn community member," said William Burke-White, Richard Perry Professor and Inaugural Director of Perry World House. “The goal of this new fellowship is to give Penn faculty members greater access to Perry World House’s policy networks and platforms to have meaningful impact on pressing world affairs. We look forward to working with Michael in the year ahead.”

Through a competitive selection process, the Penn Faculty Fellow receives a Perry World House Residency and Project Completion Grant. This new initiative is designed for standing Penn faculty to complete a significant research project that has the potential to influence not only academic scholarship but also policymaking. Additionally, throughout the academic year, the Faculty Fellow is expected to become a part of the Perry World House community, collaborating with fellow scholars, visitors, policymakers, practitioners, and students. 

During his time at Perry World House, Weisberg will complete his book, Philosophy of Natural Science, which will explore science’s ability to shape the policy world. He plans to highlight, and seek to reduce, the disparity between the expectations and realities of the role science can have in making governmental decisions. In addition, Weisberg will help collaborate with Penn scholars interested in exploring the opportunities of the Green New Deal and draw greater attention to the Galápagos Education and Research Alliance, which directly engages the Galapagueño community in science and conservation efforts.

Prior to joining Penn in 2003, Weisberg earned his B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego in 1999 before receiving his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Stanford University in 2003. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Biology and Philosophy. His books include Simulation and Similarity: Using Models to Understand the World and Galápagos: Life in Motion.

For more on Perry World House’s support for Penn faculty and scholars, please visit https://global.upenn.edu/perryworldhouse.