Heather Douglas

Heather Douglas is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Michigan State University, affiliated with the College of Arts & Letters. Her research focuses on the intersection of science and democracy, including the role of values in scientific practice, science-policy interfaces, and the ethical responsibilities of scientists. She is particularly known for challenging the 'value-free ideal' in science and advocating for science's role in democratic decision-making.

Dr. Douglas holds a Senior Visiting Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Philosophy of Science (2021-2022) and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, 2016). She leads the Socially Engaged Philosophy of Science Group at MSU and collaborates with the Institute for Science, Society, and Policy at the University of Ottawa. Her influential works include The Rightful Place of Science: Science, Values, and Democracy (2021) and Science, Policy, and the Value-Free Ideal (2009).

Her research explores themes such as scientists' accountability, public trust in science, and the ethical dimensions of science communication. She has advised on science governance frameworks, industry funding oversight, and the commercialization of science. Recent graduate seminars include Values in Science (2020) and Science, Citizens, and Democracy (2020). Her work emphasizes practical applications of philosophy to real-world science policy challenges, including climate change communication and regulatory science.

Key awards include AAAS Fellowship (2016) and recognition for her 2023 paper on values in science. Her articles span topics like scientific objectivity, motivated reasoning, and institutional design for responsible science. She actively mentors students in science policy and philosophy, guiding projects such as Ty Branch's work on value-conscious science communication and Char Brecevic's research on patient nonadherence.