The University of California, Irvine Logic & Philosophy of Science Summer Diversity Program recently concluded its third successful year supporting underrepresented students interested in graduate studies in logic and philosophy of science. The five-day residential program, funded by the National Science Foundation and the UC Irvine School of Social Sciences and directed by LPS associate professor Lauren Ross, MD, Ph.D., offers participants a no-cost, on-campus opportunity to dive into complex philosophical topics, connect with leading scholars, and gain valuable insights into grad life.

This year’s cohort was the program’s largest since its founding in 2022, with 17 students coming from locations as near as Irvine and as far as the Netherlands, China, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The group’s make-up, says Ross, is a direct reflection of the program's mission to cultivate a more inclusive and diverse field within philosophy of science.

“A main aim of our program is to provide much needed resources and support for students pursuing their interests in logic and philosophy of science,” says Ross. “Our cohort this year had especially wide-ranging interests and academic backgrounds, which led to fantastic discussions among the participants, grad students, and faculty.”

Intellectual inquiry, campus connections

The UCI Department of Logic & Philosophy of Science is globally recognized as the top-ranked program in decision theory, game theory, rational choice, and formal epistemology, and is among the top 20 in all other areas of departmental specialty. The department is home to a dozen faculty who pursue technical specializations in five active research groups: history of philosophy of science; logic and philosophy of mathematics; philosophy of biology and the behavioral sciences; philosophy of physics; and probability, induction, and formal epistemology.

This year’s seminars and discussions with leading faculty and current graduate students provided summer diversity fellows expert insight on a range of topics including causation and explanation, foundations of formal epistemology, social beliefs in science, the history and future of inductive logic, and the philosophy behind dark matter. Participants also had the opportunity to engage with two UCI cognitive psychologists – associate professors Megan Peters and Nadia Chernyak – whose interdisciplinary work bridges cognitive and philosophy of science.

“The SDP program introduces students to many areas of philosophy, including interdisciplinary work with scientists such as Dr. Peters and Dr. Chernyak, and work that engages with and addresses issues that matter for scientific practice,” says Ross.

Bridging a gap

For Mario Alejandro Sánchez del Campo, a member of the 2024 cohort and recent graduate from Emory University with a degree in quantitative theory and methods, the program provided an opportunity to explore the breadth of topics philosophy of science encompasses.

“I was drawn to apply because of the program’s rigor and depth, its emphasis on bridging participation from underrepresented groups to the field of philosophy of science, and the caliber of the LPS faculty,” he says. “The fact that they are their own department, separate from other philosophy, speaks volumes.”

Perhaps what stood out most for him, he says, was “how the program understood that great philosophy can come from people who may not have a strong philosophy background in their undergraduate studies—like myself.”

He found the program's approach to be both validating and inspiring.

“I learned that some of my ‘crazy’ research questions are not so crazy after all – I just didn’t know they were philosophy of science questions.”

Beyond academics, he says the program's unique social atmosphere also left a lasting impression.

“The way in which the cohort, faculty, and grad students all seamlessly meshed together created a supportive environment full of good vibes—something that's essential for a successful graduate program and a bit of a magical quality in the sense that programs either have it or they don't,” he says. “LPS and this program certainly have it – likely the result of gathering a bunch of really competent people in the same place, all of whom are doing great and important work in a supportive fashion.”

Meeting its mission and more

Opportunities like UCI’s LPS Summer Diversity Program are critical to addressing structural inequities and broadening the professoriate in various fields.

This is especially important in philosophy, says Sánchez del Campo, “where the de-facto instrument of measurement is the individual, and the perspective of those at the top will inevitably color the way that they see phenomenon in the world, as well as what qualifies for phenomenon of interest in the first place.”

“Programs that cater to underrepresented groups show to us and to the world that our perspectives matter, and they affirm a commitment toward better integrating them, which is crucial for doing better philosophy and better scholarship as a whole.”

Learn more about the UCI LPS Summer Diversity Program online, and be on the lookout for the summer 2025 application. Interested participants may also contact the department via email for further information.

-Heather Ashbach, UCI Social Sciences
-photo by Luis Fonseca, UCI Social Sciences