What kinds of academic knowledge — 'science' in the German sense — can best inform policy and practice, what methods will produce this knowledge and how should this knowledge be put to use? Current areas of focus are causal modelling, historical scholarship, evidence-based policy, tools for scientists and the use of science, information synthesis and practical inference, uncertainty and risk in astrobiology, objectivity and social activist research, the role of descriptive/qualitative work in science, mapping tensions in work crossing scientific disciplines and integrating philosophers into scientific work.
CHESS group has been active since 2013.
During term time, CHESS Research Group meets weekly on Thursdays at 11am (Room PO004 at the Department of Philosophy, 50 Old Elvet, Durham) to discuss research questions someone is bringing to the group.
We also run a research seminar series. The events are all free to attend. For some events, it is possible to attend online, if you are outside of Durham. Please contact CHESS administrator at admin.chess@durham.ac.uk, if you would like to do that or if you have any questions.
Thu 2 October 2025 at 9 AM -5 PM at PO010 (Department of Philosophy)
FunMo_2025 - Workshop "Perspectives on molecular functionality"
Tue 25 November 3.30 -5.00 PM at Ustinov room at Van Mildert College (Millhill Ln, Durham DH1 3LH)
Philosophical Introduction to AI and the Value Alignment Problem - book by Travis LaCroix
Mon 1 December 4.00 - 5.30 PM at Birley Room, Hatfield College, North Bailey
Causal inference and social activism -Book seminar by Nancy Cartwright et al.
Explore our research and centre activity.
