Derek Skillings

We’re excited to launch the official BlueSky profile of ISHPSSB! Founded in 1998, we connect researchers in philosophy, history, and social studies of biology and medicine worldwide. Follow us for updates and events! #PhilosophyOfBiology, #HistoryOfScience, #STS, #Biology, #Medicine

07.09.2025 14:21 — 👍 59    🔁 29    💬 3    📌 6

It is also the project that ultimately led me to start a 2nd PhD and applying for positions in philosophy. But that is another story. I was very proud of the research, and I am glad that is still getting used in new ways.

31.07.2025 14:23 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Cryptobenthic crab assemblages are more distinct across a 90 m depth gradient than 2500 km of shallow marine habitat in the Hawaiian archipelago - Scientific Reports Scientific Reports - Cryptobenthic crab assemblages are more distinct across a 90 m depth gradient than 2500 km of shallow marine habitat in the Hawaiian archipelago

New paper out. This is part of a long term project comparing Hawaiian coral reef connectivity between deep and shallow reefs to help understand biodiversity patterns and whether deep reefs might serve as climate refugia.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

31.07.2025 14:18 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Therefore we are: diving into the behavior of symbiotic organisms - UNCG Research Magazine UNCG's Dr. Derek Skillings investigates goal-directed behavior in symbiotic groups – collective entities such as biofilms and corals – with a large grant from the Templeton Foundation.

Philosopher Derek Skillings investigates goal-directed behavior in collective entities, like corals 🪸 – and recently received the largest grant in the history of @uncg.edu's philosophy department thanks to project funding from @templetonfdn.bsky.social

researchmagazine.uncg.edu/2025-issue/d...

01.05.2025 18:53 — 👍 6    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0

My university just did a nice write up on my research and the recent grant I am leading.

researchmagazine.uncg.edu/2025-issue/d...

11.03.2025 02:36 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

PaBST is back. Let me know if you're coming out for it and want to hang out! I'll be doing freshman orientation that week but I'm sure we could make things happen.

05.03.2025 17:13 — 👍 10    🔁 7    💬 1    📌 1

PaBST 2025 JUNE 22-27 2025 Abstracts Due March 31 KEYNOTE TALK BY PETER GODFREY-SMITH This event is an one of yearly ongoing summer workshops supported by the John Templeton Foundation through the grant The Emergence and Evolution of Goal-Directed Behavior in Collective Entities (#63454). Talks that are related to topics of the grant will receive priority, but all talks under the broader category of "life sciences will be considered. Prioritized topics include: holobionts, host-microbiome interactions. symbiosis, biological individuality, system function and health, and formal evolutionary or eco-evolutionary modeling. This summer workshop is aimed at philosophers, scientists, mathematicians. and scholars working on or within the life sciences, with the goal of fostering interdisciplinary interaction and encouraging collaboration. The overall goal of the workshop is to construct a serendipity generator, an event structured to provide ample opportunity and room for innovative ideas to naturally emerge. Successful and surprising cross-disciplinary collaborations are difficult to force: instead they are often borne out of chance conversations and interactions during conferences, research cruises, and workshops. PaBST will be organized as a 4-day retreat with the first (22nd) and last (27th) days reserved for arriving and leaving respectively. Participants will be staying at a common location and preparing their meals together. Each working day will consist of -4 hours of talks given by participants, broken up by roundtable discussion events and breakout sessions held at a relaxed pace. Mornings and evenings will be left open in order to let the participants engage with each other in smaller groups during organized activities. Submit a ~500 word abstract for a 30min talk by March 31. Works in progress not yet submitted for publication are especially encouraged. Submit abstracts via email to pabstworkshop@gmail.com Questions? email djskilli@uncg.edu

I'm helping to organize PaBST (Philosophy and Biology Shop Talks) this year. This is an amazing opportunity to relax on a farm and discuss big questions in evolution, ecology, agency, and other aspects of life sciences and philosophy. Application instructions in image and alt text.

06.03.2025 17:06 — 👍 2    🔁 2    💬 1    📌 1

Rediscovering Bernard and Cannon: Restoring the Broader Vision of Homeostasis Eclipsed by the Cyberneticists | Philosophy of Science | Cambridge Core Rediscovering Bernard and Cannon: Restoring the Broader Vision of Homeostasis Eclipsed by the Cyberneticists

New paper on homeostasis with William Bechtel finally out in Philosophy of Science: " Rediscovering Bernard and Cannon: Restoring the Broader Vision of Homeostasis Eclipsed by the Cyberneticists" @ias-research.bsky.social @dialecticalsys.bsky.social

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

04.03.2025 09:58 — 👍 21    🔁 9    💬 1    📌 1

Philosophy and Biology Shop Talks (PaBST) is back. Keynote by Peter Godfrey-Smith.

Abstracts due March 31. Submit at pabstworkshop@gmail.com

05.03.2025 16:38 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0