Shells and Pebbles
@shellsandpebbles.bsky.social
Interesting finds on the shores of the history of science and the humanities. We are a group of historians of science from the Netherlands editing a blog on the history of the sciences and the humanities. Posts by Elian Schure.
Why are historical competencies so important for sustainability education? How do Jules Verne and the Wadden Sea show this? In this week's post, Michiel van Harskamp shows us the importance of historical knowledge in sustainability education. Read it here! www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/11/03/e...
Education for a green future? A plea for historical perspectives in sustainability education
I am not a historian. Yet, as a sustainability education researcher, I know how important a historical perspective can be when dealing with sustainability issues. In this text, I show some of the c…
www.shellsandpebbles.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Why are historical competencies so important for sustainability education? How do Jules Verne and the Wadden Sea show this? In this week's post, Michiel van Harskamp shows us the importance of historical knowledge in sustainability education. Read it here! www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/11/03/e...
Who was Katharine Way, and how was she involved with John A. Wheeler and nuclear physics? In today's post, Stefano Furlan tells us about an unknown nuclear physicist with a large impact on others. Read it on the blog: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/10/22/t...
The Discovery of Fission and Katharine Way, “Dear to the Community of Nuclear Physicists”
Tell me where all times past are. – John Donne1 1. Introduction: a missed epoch-making discovery? As the century that saw the dawn of the nuclear age was drawing to a close, John A. Wheeler (…
www.shellsandpebbles.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Who was Katharine Way, and how was she involved with John A. Wheeler and nuclear physics? In today's post, Stefano Furlan tells us about an unknown nuclear physicist with a large impact on others. Read it on the blog: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/10/22/t...
What happens when you ask ChatGPT questions about homosexuality? What does this tell us about biases in AI? Read all about it today on the blogpost by Paola Altomonte: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/09/23/a...
A Chat with ChatGPT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been increasingly present in columns of magazines and newspapers, in posts shared thousands of times on social media, and in the preoccupied voices of politicians, …
www.shellsandpebbles.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
What happens when you ask ChatGPT questions about homosexuality? What does this tell us about biases in AI? Read all about it today on the blogpost by Paola Altomonte: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/09/23/a...
Happy September!
The best way to start the school year is, of course, by reading a Shells & Pebbles post. This week, our very own Bianca Angelien Claveria takes us with her on her research trip! What does the "world's largest leper colony" look like? www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/09/08/m...
The best way to start the school year is, of course, by reading a Shells & Pebbles post. This week, our very own Bianca Angelien Claveria takes us with her on her research trip! What does the "world's largest leper colony" look like? www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/09/08/m...
Mapalad: Fieldwork Notes from Culion
“Godzilla vs. Kong. Why was this movie chosen to entertain the ferry passengers? Was the movie a personal favorite, or was it the only movie available?” I asked myself, as I craned my neck and shif…
www.shellsandpebbles.com
September 10, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Happy September!
The best way to start the school year is, of course, by reading a Shells & Pebbles post. This week, our very own Bianca Angelien Claveria takes us with her on her research trip! What does the "world's largest leper colony" look like? www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/09/08/m...
The best way to start the school year is, of course, by reading a Shells & Pebbles post. This week, our very own Bianca Angelien Claveria takes us with her on her research trip! What does the "world's largest leper colony" look like? www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/09/08/m...
Reposted by Shells and Pebbles
Looking for some fun and short reads for over the holiday? Why not follow @shellsandpebbles.bsky.social on Bluesky, our long-running blog on interesting finds in the history of science!
August 4, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Looking for some fun and short reads for over the holiday? Why not follow @shellsandpebbles.bsky.social on Bluesky, our long-running blog on interesting finds in the history of science!
Whether you are going to São Paulo, New York, Manila, or Utrecht for the holidays, Shells and Pebbles has you covered! We have some wonderful destinations for you in our Staff Summer Travel Tips. Read it on the blog: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/06/23/s...
Shells and Pebbles Summer Travel Tips
“It takes an endless amount of history to make even a little tradition.” – Henry James As this academic year comes to a close, our team of editors wanted to cultivate a tradition started last…
www.shellsandpebbles.com
June 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Whether you are going to São Paulo, New York, Manila, or Utrecht for the holidays, Shells and Pebbles has you covered! We have some wonderful destinations for you in our Staff Summer Travel Tips. Read it on the blog: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/06/23/s...
What do you discover when studying the colonial past of your faculty? Yavanne van Tiggelen interviewed Elian Schure about her experiences researching Utrecht University's Faculty of Science. Read all about it on the blog in English or Dutch: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/06/09/k...
‘Knowledge gathered in a colonial context is transferred to students without regard to its history’
Elian Schure is a PhD candidate at Utrecht University (UU). She is currently working on her research on human categorization in biological research. During her master’s degree in History and Philos…
www.shellsandpebbles.com
June 10, 2025 at 7:27 AM
What do you discover when studying the colonial past of your faculty? Yavanne van Tiggelen interviewed Elian Schure about her experiences researching Utrecht University's Faculty of Science. Read all about it on the blog in English or Dutch: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/06/09/k...
And today, you can immediately enjoy our newest post on intellectual histories! Chiara Lacroix shows us the challenges of context by comparing two intellectual histories. Go read it on the blog: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/05/26/i...
Is writing context-laden intellectual histories possible?
This essay compares two relatively recent works of intellectual history centred on the 18th century, both with an ambitious scope, and both written by established historians of science and medicine…
www.shellsandpebbles.com
May 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
And today, you can immediately enjoy our newest post on intellectual histories! Chiara Lacroix shows us the challenges of context by comparing two intellectual histories. Go read it on the blog: www.shellsandpebbles.com/2025/05/26/i...
Welcome to the new Shells and Pebbles Bluesky!
A special shout-out to the two people who guessed the song in the newsletter correctly and with only one minute between them: Abel Streefland and Rob van Gent! Congratulations!
A special shout-out to the two people who guessed the song in the newsletter correctly and with only one minute between them: Abel Streefland and Rob van Gent! Congratulations!
May 27, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Welcome to the new Shells and Pebbles Bluesky!
A special shout-out to the two people who guessed the song in the newsletter correctly and with only one minute between them: Abel Streefland and Rob van Gent! Congratulations!
A special shout-out to the two people who guessed the song in the newsletter correctly and with only one minute between them: Abel Streefland and Rob van Gent! Congratulations!