I am a Professor of Philosophy at McMaster University. A Commonwealth alumna and a Fellow of the Humboldt Foundation. I am currently a member of the Council of Canadian Academies‘ Scientific Advisory Council and a Member of Sillons‘ Board of Director
I am currently leading a series of research projects on social innovation, impact and policy, leveraging social sciences methods and critical approaches to study the role of social sciences, humanities and arts (SSHA) research and talent in the innovation ecosystem. This research directly informs a series of action-driven projects that fall under the umbrella of the Canadian Collaborative for Society, Innovation and Policy.
These projects include:
The Observatory for Public and Social Innovation, a new CFI-funded data-driven metaresearch initiative that leverages new digital analytic tools and equity-based co-creation methodologies to identify and promote activities, practices and programs that create lasting assets and increase capacity for resilience and innovation for non-academic research partners. The Observatory will increase intelligence across the Canadian research ecosystem, building capacity at the national level for cross-sectoral collaborations, talent development and knowledge mobilization to bolster SSHA contributions to public and social sector innovation.
The/La Collaborative, a multi-institutional, cross-sectoral network led from McMaster University that develops new programs to mobilize SSHA talent and expertise to meet the needs of communities.
Since 2022, CCSIP and the Canadian Science Policy Centre have partnered to convene the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation. The Forum gathers interest holders from higher education, the social sector, municipal, provincial and federal governments, community nonprofits and industry for panels, catalyst roundtables, deliberative dialogues and concertation workshops to create alignment on various aspects of Canada’s innovation strategy to bolster prosperity across sectors.
Building on emerging consensus and a wealth of additional evidence, and with the support of valued partners, the guidance of its advisory committee, and the stewardship CCSIP, the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation convenes a national dialogue around key issues around social prosperity and wealth-generating innovation.
In my previous life, as an analytic philosopher, I specialized in the history of 19th and 20th century philosophy of logic, language and mind. My publications include: Logic from Kant to Russell (2019), Philosophy of Mind in the 19th Century (2018), Innovations in the History of Analytical Philosophy (with Chris Pincock, 2017), New Anti-Kant (with Clinton Tolley, 2014), Bolzano’s Theoretical Philosophy (2011); Qu’est-ce que l’analyse? (2008); and a number of other books, articles and book chapters. I am a Research Affiliate of the Bertrand Russell Research Centre, a Founding Associate Editor and current Editor of Special Issues of the Journal for the History of Analytical Philosophy. I am the founding President of the Society for the Study of History of Analytical Philosophy.
I’ve had the privilege to be involved in the leadership of the discipline as President of the Canadian Philosophical Association in 2017-18 and more recently, I’ve worked more broadly as a Humanities and Social Sciences advocate. I am a former Board Director of the Federation of the Humanities and Social Sciences and a Research Affiliate of the Future Skills Centre.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2311-0846
