Joeri Witteveen

Joeri Witteveen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Science Education at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in History and Philosophy of Science with a focus on biology. His work bridges scientific practice with philosophical inquiry, particularly examining how scientific classification systems interact with conservation policy and biodiversity assessment.

Witteveen received his PhD in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (Trinity College), following studies at Maastricht University, the University of California at Berkeley, and the London School of Economics.

His research centers on the history and philosophy of biology, with particular emphasis on biological taxonomy, species conservation, and the role of human values in scientific classification. Current projects include "Tackling the Conservationist's Dilemma" (2023-2026), which examines epistemic and ethical tensions between science and policy making in biological taxonomy and species conservation, and the upcoming "Human Variables in Biodiversity Assessment" (2025-2029), which investigates how human values influence biodiversity metrics and categories. These projects reveal a consistent theme in his work: understanding how scientific objectivity interacts with human values and social contexts in the life sciences.

• Sapere Aude Starting Grant from Danish Research Council (DFF)
• Semper Ardens Accelerate Grant from Carlsberg Foundation
• VENI early career research grant from Dutch Research Council (NWO)

Witteveen has secured significant research funding including a Sapere Aude Starting Grant and a Semper Ardens Accelerate Grant, demonstrating the impact and relevance of his work at the intersection of philosophy, history, and biological sciences. His editorial roles with History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, and Acta Biotheoretica highlight his standing in the academic community.

His collaborative work extends internationally, including partnerships with researchers at Arizona State University on projects examining productive ambiguity in scientific classification.