Jorrit Smit
Researcher
- Name
- Dr. J.P. Smit
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2727
- j.p.smit@cwts.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0002-9023-9773
Jorrit Smit is a teacher at the Institute for Philosophy.
Fields of interest
With insights and methods from the historical, philosophical, and social studies of science I attempt to understand complex situation of science in society. Most of my previous research focused on the history of chemistry. Lately, my interests broadened to policy studies and Science, Technology & Society (STS) to analyze valorisatie, or valorization: the explicit demand to all sciences and Dutch universities to become societally valuable.
Research
Much debate about universities and science at present revolves around the concept of “valorization of scientific knowledge”. Governments use the concept to encourage universities, funding councils, and individual researchers to be more responsive to societal needs and taxpayer interests; university boards use it as a criterion in faculty reorganizations and hiring policies; and some protest groups use it to highlight the creeping commercialization of knowledge and of academic institutions to the detriment of intellectual freedom. This project examines the notion of valorization of scientific knowledge with particular reference to the Dutch case from the viewpoints of philosophy of science, history of science, and policy studies. It aims at answering questions including: what are the epistemological presuppositions of calls for scientific knowledge to have societal impact? How does the latest wave of Dutch valorization policies relate to previous conceptions of the social relevance of science? And what side effects and unintended consequences can we expect if we require scientific research to demonstrate societal value?
Teaching activities
General introductory course ‘Philosophy of Science’, from logical empiricism and Popper to Kuhn and social studies of science.
Advanced bachelor seminar ‘The Politics of Knowledge’, combining theoretical perspectives on knowledge and power (a.o. Foucault, Latour, Haraway) with specific case studies (a.o. climate change, HIV/AIDS, race and genetics). Check out the weblog (in Dutch) that the students put together during the course: https://politiekvankennis.weblog.leidenuniv.nl/
Curriculum vitae
Jorrit Smit is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Philosophy at Leiden University as of September 2015. The project 'Valorization of Scientific Knowledge: Philosophy, History and Policy' is funded by NWO as part of the 'Promoties in de Geesteswetenschappen' program. He has a background in physical chemistry, interdisciplinary studies, philosophy, and history of science. Jorrit studied at University of Amsterdam, KU Leuven, and Utrecht University, and was a visiting student at the History department of UCLA (2013) and the STS department at UCL (2017).
Key publications
Smit, J.P. (2018) “The politics of interwar chemistry. Neutrality and nationalism in the rhetoric and actions of internationalist chemists.” In: Ninhos, C. & Clara, F. (eds.) Closing the door on Globalization: Cultural Nationalism and Scientific Internationalism in the 19th and 20th Centuries (Routledge Studies in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine). London: Routledge, pp.7-29.
Jong, S.P.L. de, Smit, J.P. & Drooge, L. van (2016). “Scientists’ response to societal impact policies: A policy paradox.” Science and public policy, 43(1), 102-114. https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scv023
Smit, J.P. (2016) “Geen waardevrij bolwerk van de vrijheid meer: De ‘identiteitscrisis’ van de Universiteit Leiden in de jaren 1970.” In: Dorsman, L.J. & Knegtmans, P.J. (eds.) Universiteit & Identiteit: Over samenwerking, concurrentie en taakverdeling tussen de Nederlandse universiteiten. Hilversum: Uitgeverij Verloren, pp. 47-70.
Tags: History of Science, Philosophy of Science, Valorization/Valorisatie, Policy
Researcher
- Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen
- CWTS
- Smit J.P. (6 May 2021), Utility spots: science policy, knowledge transfer and the politics of proximity (PhD thesis. Institute for Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University). Supervisor(s): McAllister, J.W.
- Smit J.P. (2019), Wie weet wat we met Responsible Research and Innovation bedoelen?, Scienceguide .
- Smit J.P. (2019), Ernst Cohen and the Challenge of a Truly International Union, Chemistry International 41(3): 9-10.
- Smit J.P. (2019), Ten geleide. Het eetbare denken, Wijsgerig perspectief op maatschappij en wetenschap 59(2): 4-5.
- Smit J.P. (2018), The politics of interwar chemistry. Neutrality and nationalism in the rhetoric and actions of internationalist chemists. In: Ninhos C., Clara F. (Eds.) Closing the door on Globalization: Cultural Nationalism and Scientific Internationalism in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Routledge Studies in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine London: Routledge. 7-29.
- Smit J.P. (6 April 2017), Innovatie, het nieuwe wondermiddel. ScienceGuide. Amsterdam: www.scienceguide.nl [blog entry].
- Smit J.P. (2017), The De Glind Conference: A Retreat for Young Historians of … Knowledge, Studium : Tijdschrift voor Wetenschaps- en Universiteits-Geschiedenis 10(1): 19-28.
- Smit J.P. (11 October 2016), Tinguelychemie. deFusie: www.defusie.net [blog entry].
- Smit J.P. (8 March 2016), Het seksleven van de schroefworm en betaalbare biefstuk. deFusie: www.defusie.net [blog entry].
- Smit J.P. (2016), Geen waardevrij bolwerk van de vrijheid meer: De ‘identiteitscrisis’ van de Universiteit Leiden in de jaren 1970. In: Dorsman L.J., Knegtmans P.J. (Eds.) Universiteit en Identiteit. Hilversum: Uitgeverij Verloren.
- Smit J.P. (2016), Onware Kennis, Wijsgerig perspectief op maatschappij en wetenschap 4.
- Smit J.P. (2016), Review of: Dongen, J. van; Hoeneveld, F.; Streefland, A. (2015) Cold War Science and the Transatlantic Circulation of Knowledge, History of Modern Science, Studium : tijdschrift voor wetenschaps- en universiteitsgeschiedenis / Revue d'histoire des sciences et des universités 9(3): 181-182.
- Smit J.P. (14 September 2015), What are/were/will universities be for?. What are/were/will universities be for?: Shells and Pebbles [blog entry].
- Jong S.P.L. de, Smit J.P. & Drooge L. van (2015), Scientists’ response to societal impact policies: A policy paradox, Science and public policy : 1-13.