New subject: FYI: Histories of Scientific Racism, 7.5 credits

4 Apr 2023

      The Department of History of Science and Ideas, Uppsala University, invites applications
to the course ”Histories of Scientific Racism” (7.5 credits), to be taught on campus in
Uppsala during Autumn term 2023. Master’s and PhD students from the historical disciplines
and beyond are welcome to apply. Any questions about the course can be addressed to the
course coordinator Petter Hellström
(petter.hellstrom@idehist.uu.se<mailto:petter.hellstrom@idehist.uu.se>) or to the
Director of Studies for advanced level Orsi Husz
(orsi.husz@idehist.uu.se<mailto:orsi.husz@idehist.uu.se>). Teachers on the course
include Sven Widmalm and Linda Andersson Burnett.

Histories of Scientific Racism, 7.5 credits
Advanced course offered by the Department of History of Science and Ideas, Uppsala
University, Autumn 2023 (period 1)
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This advanced course, open to students at the master’s or doctoral level, examines the
historical development of scientific racism from the 18th century to the first half of the
20th century. The overarching purpose is to investigate how the ideas and practices of
scientific racism have been constructed and developed over time, both in relation to the
more general history of science, and to social processes of profound importance to the
history of scientific racism, including colonialism and imperialism, the
institutionalisation and abolishment of slavery, secularisation and the enlightenment,
nationalism and democratisation.
The expression “scientific racism” is not limited, in this context, to race biology, but
is used more broadly to denote attempts at applying scientific methods to divide humankind
into distinct groups, and to decide the characteristics of those groups in relation to one
another. The course is chronologically and thematically organised into a series of
modules, which range from the emergence of the concept of race within 18th-century natural
history, to the enactment of race in early 20th-century genetics and eugenics. Particular
emphasis is afforded to the early history of scientific racism, the religious legacy, and
the interplay between different fields of enquiry, including natural history and biology,
philology, anthropology, archaeology, and medicine. The reading and analysis of primary
sources is a central feature of the course.
The course consists of lectures and seminars; it is examined by way of written assignments
and by active participation in the seminars. The language of instruction is English. We
welcome applicants from the historical disciplines and beyond, including the medical and
biological sciences.
Course details are available in the Uppsala University course
catalogue<https://www.uu.se/en/admissions/freestanding-courses/course/?kKod=5LH011&typ=1>,
and applications can be filed at
universityadmissions.se<https://www.universityadmissions.se/intl/start>. PhD
students are encouraged to write directly to the course
coordinator<mailto:petter.hellstrom@idehist.uu.se>.
Please note that this is a historical course about racism. While we will not tolerate
expressions in support of racist or otherwise prejudiced opinions, applicants are advised
that the nature of the course means course participants will be exposed to deeply
offensive materials as a part of their study.

———

Petter Hellström<https://katalog.uu.se/profile/?id=N12-227>, PhD
Researcher, Department of History of Science and Ideas, Uppsala University
Research lead, Unmapping
Africa<https://www.idehist.uu.se/research/projects/unmapping-africa/>

Academia<https://uppsala.academia.edu/nph> |
Linkedin<https://www.linkedin.com/in/petter-hellstr%C3%B6m-7209581a5/> |
Twitter<https://twitter.com/nphellstrom>

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