Women’s Scientific Literatures: The Poetry and Poetics of Early Modern Natural Philosophy
Women's Scientific Literatures: A Poetic Revolution
Rediscovering Women's Voices in Natural Philosophy
Prepare for an extraordinary conference that will delve into the fascinating world of early modern women and their contributions to natural philosophy.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Danielle Clarke (University College Dublin)
- Helena Taylor (University of Exeter)
- Liza Blake (University of Toronto)
- Sajed Chowdhury (Utrecht University)
- Johanna Luggin (Innsbruck University)
- Whitney Sperrazza (Texas A&M University)
- Elizabeth Swann (Durham University)
Women's Engagement with Science
Through a close examination of poetic works, this conference will unveil the extent to which early modern women not only consumed but also actively engaged with natural philosophical ideas.
"This conference demands a rediscovery of the philosophical themes and vocabularies that pervade texts written by women." - Jaime Goodrich and Paula McQuade
Exploring Margin and Center
The conference will explore a wide range of literary forms and genres, including devotional lyrics, country house poems, and political verse, to highlight the diverse ways women explored natural philosophy.
By shedding light on lesser-known or unpublished works, the conference aims to rebalance the historical narrative and uncover the true breadth of women's contributions to scientific thought.
Topics of Interest
- Women's use of poetic genres for scientific knowledge
- Natural philosophical vocabularies in women's texts
- Women's participation in scientific circles
- Influence of scientific ideas on women's domestic and theological writing
- Comparative studies of male and female scientific-poetic works
Call for Proposals
We invite submissions of up to 300 words for 20-minute papers or roundtable contributions by Monday, 3rd March 2025.
Join us for an inspiring exploration of the intersection of science, poetry, and the marginalized voices of early modern women.