Bordeaux Summer School – Philosophy in biology and medicine

June 1st – June 5th, 2026

Application deadline : March 15th

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PhilInBioMed is both an interdisciplinary institute located at the University of Bordeaux and an international network connecting groups and people working at the interface between philosophy, biology, and medicine, with the shared conviction that conceptual and philosophical approaches can make a critical contribution to science and medicine.

Between June 1^st and 5^th 2026, PhilInBioMed is organising an interdisciplinary summer school on the topic of “Philosophy in biology and medicine.” Over the course of a week, around 25 young scientists (Master students, doctoral candidates and post-doctoral fellows) from the fields of philosophy, life sciences and medicine will come together and learn to address conceptual questions in scientific research using interdisciplinary methods.

Experienced researchers from philosophy and biomedical fields will be present to share practical examples of interdisciplinary collaboration from their careers and to advise and interact with participants throughout the week. An important part of the summer school is a research activity in which groups of participants work together with experts on the different steps of a “Philosophy in Science” project. The programme also includes social activities, “speed dating,” and plenty of opportunity for informal discussions to promote exchange between participants.

This summer school is a unique opportunity for young researchers to develop new interdisciplinary approaches that will benefit them throughout their careers. Participants will not only learn about specific concepts and scientific advances, but also how to view their own field of research from a new perspective.

Leaders and speakers

› Alan COHEN (Health and aging, University of Columbia)
› Scott GILBERT (EvoDevo, Swarthmore College)
› Elis JONES (Philosophy of marine biology, Technical University of Munich)
› Adeline LE CABEC (Dental anthropology, University of Bordeaux & CNRS)
› Maël LEMOINE (Philosophy of aging, University of Bordeaux)
› Mathilde LEQUIN (Philosophy of paleoanthropology, University of Bordeaux)
› Carlo MALEY (Cancer and evolution, Arizona State University)
› Thomas PRADEU (Philosophy of immunology and cancer biology, University of
Bordeaux & CNRS)
› Lisa ROUX (Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux & CNRS)
› Jonathan SHOLL (Philosophy of nutritional science, University of Bordeaux)
› Christopher STEVENS (Philosophy of neuroscience, University of Bordeaux)
› Marie VASSE (Ecology and evolution, University of Bordeaux)
› Orsolya VINCZE (Cancer and evolution, University of La Rochelle)

Organizers

› Fridolin GROSS (University of Bordeaux)
› Jan Pieter KONSMAN (CNRS & University of Bordeaux)

More details / Registration

https://bss-philinbiomed.u-bordeaux.fr/en/