Susan G. Sterrett

Susan G. Sterrett serves as the Curtis D. Gridley Distinguished Professor of History and Philosophy of Science within the Department of Philosophy at Wichita State University's Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, having joined the institution in Fall 2013 after academic appointments at Duke University, Carnegie-Mellon University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

Her educational foundation includes a B.S. in Engineering Science from Cornell University, complemented by dual M.A. degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Sterrett's research program critically examines scientific modeling across physics, engineering, and artificial intelligence, with signature contributions to dimensional analysis, Wittgenstein's philosophy of representation, and Turing's conceptualization of machine intelligence. Her work consistently interrogates how mathematical structures function in exact solutions versus simulations and physical models, while addressing contemporary concerns like bias in scientific practice and ethical dimensions of technology.

Analysis of her 2017-2023 publications reveals a cohesive trajectory exploring scale modeling, miniature-world physics, and analogical reasoning—demonstrating how historical frameworks (particularly Mach's acoustics work and Wittgenstein's Tractatus) inform modern computational and engineering challenges.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• AAAS Fellow (2016)

Sterrett actively mentors through courses like Women in Tech and Engineering Ethics, though specific advisees aren't documented in available materials. Her sustained research output suggests ongoing grant-supported work despite no explicit funding mentions, particularly evident in her 2020 workshop and EarthWaterAir project initiatives.

While laboratory affiliations aren't specified, her integration of historical analysis with contemporary modeling practices indicates collaborative engagement with engineering and physics communities, as reflected in her Routledge Handbook contributions and interdisciplinary publications.