Coffee with Scientists

The goal of this series is to provide an informal, relaxed setting where scientists—broadly defined—can share current challenges, puzzles, or opportunities in their fields. By fostering meaningful conversations between scientists and scholars of science (historians, philosophers, etc.), we hope to encourage a constructive exchange of perspectives. (NB: The inspiration and name are taken from Cambridge HPS's Coffee with Scientists series.)

Events 2025

If you wish to be notified of upcoming events, please subscribe to the HPS Seminar Mailing List. (There is no separate mailing list for this event series) If you have questions, contact Cristian Larroulet Philippi.

Coffee with Scientists events are in person.

Friday 24 October
15:00-16:00

Megan Munsie, University of Melbourne

PAST EVENTS

EVENTS COMPLETED FOR 2025

Friday 6 June,
15:00–16:00,
Digital Lab (Arts West, West Wing, Room 213)

Concept Creep: Understanding Harm Inflation
Nicholas Haslam, Psychology, University of Melbourne

I will present an overview of my research program on "concept creep", the tendency for harm-related concepts to broaden their meanings over time. This program includes studies of historical semantic change that apply natural language processing methods to large text corpora, as well as correlational and experimental studies of the implications of holding expansive harm concepts. Paying special attention to evolving concepts of mental illness, I will argue that concept creep reflects an important cultural shift that contributes to the current mental health crisis. This work raises interesting questions about how conceptual change can create changes in personal identity and social reality.