Robin Findlay Hendry

Professor Robin Hendry is a faculty member at Durham University, serving as Co-Director of CHESS (Centre for Humanities Engaging with Science and Society) and actively engaged in research leave. His academic work bridges philosophy of science, history of chemistry, and metaphysical questions in physical sciences, with a focus on scientific realism, emergence, and chemical substances.

Robin's research explores the ontological relationship between chemistry and physics, arguing for a realist view of chemical substances and strong emergence in chemical systems. He has authored influential works such as 'The Metaphysics of Chemistry' and co-edited The Routledge Handbook of Emergence (2019), contributing to debates on downward causation and scientific modeling.

• 2023: Structure, essence and existence in chemistry
• 2021: Elements and principles, Structure and emergence
• 2020: Trusting Atoms
• 2019: Emergence in Chemistry, Philosophy of Chemistry (Stanford Encyclopedia)

Recent scientific awards include John Templeton Foundation funding for the Durham Emergence Project (2013-16) and AHRC grants for 'Structure in Chemistry' (2012). He has supervised PhD students in philosophy of science and served as Director of Research in the Department of Philosophy.