This PhD project invites candidates to explore how 19th-century discourses of “wondrous science” – where scientific knowledge was staged, performed and entangled with magic, religion and spectacle – continue to shape contemporary narratives about science, credibility and public trust in research. Drawing inspiration from works like Fred Nadis’s Wonder Shows, Daston’s Wonders and the Order of Nature and During’s Modern Enchantments the project will investigate how historical modes of (re)presenting science as awe-inspiring, spectacular and theatrical persist in modern contexts, from popular science media to pop culture. The research will critically examine how these enduring tropes influence current debates around scientific authority and the crisis of knowledge credibility. How do legacies of science 'on show' contribute to both science enchantment and skepticism? What 'spectacular' rhetorical and aesthetic strategies are used to bolster or undermine scientific credibility, and to fuel or dampen fascination with science today? And how are the historical modes of staging science echoed in popular culture – from films and streaming series to comics – where science is often dramatised, mythologised or contested? What role do these portrayals and narratives play in shaping public fascination, trust or doubt, and how might they perpetuate or challenge the spectacle-driven narratives of science that emerged over a century ago? In particular, this project is interested in the role of (the history of) medicine in the contexts and discourses around “wondrous science” and knowledge credibility.

This interdisciplinary project is ideal for candidates with interests in science communication, history of science, (pop) cultural studies and popular entertainment studies. It offers opportunities for archival research, discourse analysis, textual analysis (close reading) and engagement with contemporary case studies. Co-supervised by scholars with expertise in science communication, the history of medicine, cultural history and pop culture studies the project promises a rich intellectual journey through the entangled histories and futures of science, wonder and belief.

Science communication is an interdisciplinary field that examines how scientific knowledge is produced, shared and interpreted across media, audiences and cultural contexts. It explores the strategies and practices of communicating science (e.g. through formats like journalism, social media, museums and fiction) and the dynamics that shape public understanding, trust and engagement. Drawing from disciplines such as communication studies, STS, sociology, history, pop culture studies and media studies, researchers investigate topics including science in culture, representation ethics and the role of scientists. The field aims to critically reflect on science’s social role. Studying science in popular culture is especially relevant for understanding how scientific ideas and ideas and meanings about science circulate beyond formal education and how they shape public imagination, identity and debate.

Eligibility

Admission to a Doctor of Philosophy degree at ANU requires:

1. An Australian Bachelor degree with at least Second Class or its international equivalent, or
2. Another degree with a significant research/thesis component that may be assessed as equivalent to paragraph (1), or
3. A combination of qualifications, research publications and/or professional experience related to the field of study that may be assessed as equivalent to paragraph (1).

Further information relating to eligibility can be found on the ANUs website: http://www.anu.edu.au/study/apply/anu-postgraduate-research-domestic-and-international-applications

The Candidate

The successful applicant will have a passion for science in popular culture, particularly science as/and performance, the history of science and for interdisciplinary research – because this project will require bridging the humanities (studying fictional texts, popular entertainment and film, as well as archival material), science communication (exploring the representation and cultural meanings of science in popular culture) and sciences (medicine). They will have a background in a relevant discipline (ideally science communication or cultural studies, or the history of science) and an advanced awareness/knowledge of humanities research methods. They will also possess strong interpersonal skills, curiosity, strong writing skills, and be able to work effectively as part of a small interdisciplinary team and also independently. If the applicant has a background in the humanities, a very strong commitment to understanding and working with scientific concepts (medicine) is expected.

Supervisors

Dr Anna-Sophie Jürgens, studies science’s cultural meanings, comic mad scientists, violent clowns and sci-tech-entertainment links. She explores science-art interfaces, environmental knowledge and humour’s role in sci-comm.

Dr Laura Dawes, Historian, author, broadcaster. Investigates medicine, law and society connections. Passionate promoter of vibrant public history. Expertise in medicine and law, medical fraud, obesity, cancer and public health.

Funding

The successful applicant with be based in the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) at the ANU. Scholarships are available for both domestic and international applicants, and CPAS will work with the successful applicant to guide them through the scholarship process.

To Apply

To be considered for this position, in the first instance please forward a current CV (2-page max.) and short cover letter (1-page max.) to Dr Anna-Sophie Jürgens (anna-sophie.jurgens@anu.edu.au) and Dr Laura Dawes (laura.dawes@anu.edu.au). In the cover letter, be sure to let us know why you are the perfect candidate based on the skills outlined above. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to a Zoom meeting to discuss their applications further.

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis as they are received, and this position will remain open until filled.