Presentation
The Biomedical Humanities Initiative, accredited in January 2020, brings together researchers from various Sorbonne University research units on the theme of medicine.
An interdisciplinary approach
Sorbonne University's Biomedical Humanities Initiative is part of a network of institutes and multidisciplinary thematic initiatives of the Sorbonne University Alliance, aimed at bringing together several disciplines, freeing them from the traditional divisions, and thus giving researchers from different backgrounds the opportunity to confront their knowledge and experience.
It brings together research and teaching projects at the intersection of medicine, science, humanities and social sciences. Thus, it is part of a long tradition of exchanges between the disciplines of the 'humanities' (philosophy, literature, sociology, cultural anthropology, history and history of art) on the one hand and, on the other, medicine, understood here as 'an art at the crossroads of several sciences', according to Georges Canguilhem's expression (anatomy, physiology, biology, or chemistry),
- integrating contributions from disciplines such as law, economics, information and communication sciences,
- mobilising Sorbonne University's own heritage resources (Dupuytren collection, Charcot Archives etc.),
- favouring interdisciplinary research at national and international level (privileged partnerships with Stanford University and the Medicine and the Muse centre, with the University of Montreal, the University of Geneva).
Scientific areas
Five lines of research have been defined:
- History of representations of the body, health, diseases, study of medical and biological heritage (collections); history of biological and medical sciences and their contribution to the philosophy of contemporary medicine.
- Evolution of biomedical tools and techniques (artificial intelligence, medical imaging, data and biobanks).
- Ethics of biomedical research, ethics of doctor-patient relations, articulation between knowledge and decision-making (in its ethical, economic, social or political dimensions).
- Relationship between health and environment, including the issue of habitat and place (geography) and mental health. Disease trends, health risks and the "One Health" concept.
- Methods of disseminating and communicating information on diseases and health, participation in health.
Contact us
The Biomedical Humanities Initiative seeks to promote all projects related to its research areas. Do not hesitate to contact us to share your projects, dialogue and/or join the list of our members.