Phila M. Msimang
@msimang.bsky.social
Philosopher of race, biology, and related social issues.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Phila-Msimang
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Phila-Msimang
I’m glad to have contributed to this project as a coauthor of Chapter 12 which is titled “Toward inclusive medical education, research, and practice: Removing race from genetics”. It was written by Fernandez, Msimang, Uren, and Petersen.
Find the chapter here: doi.org/10.1016/B978...
Find the chapter here: doi.org/10.1016/B978...
August 24, 2026 at 4:55 AM
I’m glad to have contributed to this project as a coauthor of Chapter 12 which is titled “Toward inclusive medical education, research, and practice: Removing race from genetics”. It was written by Fernandez, Msimang, Uren, and Petersen.
Find the chapter here: doi.org/10.1016/B978...
Find the chapter here: doi.org/10.1016/B978...
Postdoc available in the RACES Initiative for those interested in working at the intersection of race and racism, science, and institutional culture. See the ad attached for more details. Applications close on the 30th of September 2026: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
August 17, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Postdoc available in the RACES Initiative for those interested in working at the intersection of race and racism, science, and institutional culture. See the ad attached for more details. Applications close on the 30th of September 2026: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Next week I will have the pleasure of presenting my work on the intersection of race, politics, and international relations at Rhodes University’s Department of Political and International Studies in their Teach-In Series of 2026. See more about the Teach-In Series here: lnkd.in/dT4qcWdt
July 3, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Next week I will have the pleasure of presenting my work on the intersection of race, politics, and international relations at Rhodes University’s Department of Political and International Studies in their Teach-In Series of 2026. See more about the Teach-In Series here: lnkd.in/dT4qcWdt
A summer school on biology and society.
We are on Day 2 of our summer school in Türkiye! See more about our line-up of speakers here: bilimler.org/etkinlikler/...
June 30, 2026 at 9:37 AM
A summer school on biology and society.
Here's a report on the use of race in the health sciences at a South African University based on a symposium I was involved in at that university. What I liked about the format was that we not only looked at known challenges but also proposed practical ways forward. www.linkedin.com/posts/msiman...
UCT Faculty of Health Sciences Symposium on Race in Health Sciences | Phila M. Msimang posted on the topic | LinkedIn
I recently had the pleasure of receiving this report. It is about a symposium I presented a keynote on the use of race in the health sciences. This symposium was hosted by the UCT Faculty of Health Sc...
www.linkedin.com
June 10, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Here's a report on the use of race in the health sciences at a South African University based on a symposium I was involved in at that university. What I liked about the format was that we not only looked at known challenges but also proposed practical ways forward. www.linkedin.com/posts/msiman...
It has gotten off to a great start.
We had a great first session at our hybrid workshop with talks by @abigailnd.bsky.social and @msimang.bsky.social. Next up: @acfischer.bsky.social with her talk on endometriosis patients as epistemic agents.
Check out the full program here: rotoworkshop2026.wixsite.com/diversity/pr...
Check out the full program here: rotoworkshop2026.wixsite.com/diversity/pr...
March 26, 2026 at 10:50 AM
It has gotten off to a great start.
I am about to present in this exciting workshop.
12th RUB Workshop on the History and Philosophy of the Life Science is coming up!
Topic: Diversity in Motion - New Challenges across the Sciences
Date: March 26-27, 2026
Location: Bochum, Germany and online
Registration (free for all!): rotoworkshop2026.wixsite.com/diversity
#HPBio #HistSci #PhilSci
Topic: Diversity in Motion - New Challenges across the Sciences
Date: March 26-27, 2026
Location: Bochum, Germany and online
Registration (free for all!): rotoworkshop2026.wixsite.com/diversity
#HPBio #HistSci #PhilSci
March 26, 2026 at 8:25 AM
I am about to present in this exciting workshop.
1/13 Check out our new chapter, Philosophy and Race Science, co-authored with Sahotra Sarkar for The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Race. In it, we track the historical development, the temporary retreat, and the subsequent reincarnation of race as a biological concept: doi.org/10.4324/9781...
March 20, 2026 at 6:52 AM
1/13 Check out our new chapter, Philosophy and Race Science, co-authored with Sahotra Sarkar for The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Race. In it, we track the historical development, the temporary retreat, and the subsequent reincarnation of race as a biological concept: doi.org/10.4324/9781...
Please follow and share this profile - announcements of their upcoming talks in the philosophy of biology will be shared here on Bluesky.
Welcome to the social media page of the International Philosophy of Biology Circle (IPBC) 🌐
Our aim is to foster an interdisciplinary forum for dialogue on the theoretical, conceptual, historical, and ethical dimensions of the life sciences.
Visit our website to learn more: www.phil-bio-circle.org
Our aim is to foster an interdisciplinary forum for dialogue on the theoretical, conceptual, historical, and ethical dimensions of the life sciences.
Visit our website to learn more: www.phil-bio-circle.org
March 3, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Please follow and share this profile - announcements of their upcoming talks in the philosophy of biology will be shared here on Bluesky.
It was a good day today.
February 16, 2026 at 4:31 PM
It was a good day today.
Reposted by Phila M. Msimang
Prof. Duana Fullwiley (Stanford University) kicks off our spring speaker series with the talk “Into the Lab: Racial World Building and its Discontents” on February 3rd. You can register to attend via zoom here: hugera.org/lecture-seri...
January 28, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Prof. Duana Fullwiley (Stanford University) kicks off our spring speaker series with the talk “Into the Lab: Racial World Building and its Discontents” on February 3rd. You can register to attend via zoom here: hugera.org/lecture-seri...
Reposted by Phila M. Msimang
The International Fellowships programme provides support for outstanding early career researchers. First identify a suitable mentor in the Faculty of Philosophy. Once you have obtained their agreement, send CV & expression of interest to [email protected] by Thursday, 12 February 2026
#philsci
#philsci
January 20, 2026 at 9:20 AM
The International Fellowships programme provides support for outstanding early career researchers. First identify a suitable mentor in the Faculty of Philosophy. Once you have obtained their agreement, send CV & expression of interest to [email protected] by Thursday, 12 February 2026
#philsci
#philsci
I am looking forward to being a part of this pre-conference panel.
January 15, 2026 at 3:05 PM
I am looking forward to being a part of this pre-conference panel.
One of the things I enjoyed this year was this interview with Rasmus Bitsch where Tessa (@tessamuldvarp.bsky.social) and I discuss the work we have been doing mapping the history of racial classification in South Africa.
You can listen to this interview here: podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/a...
You can listen to this interview here: podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/a...
December 22, 2025 at 4:47 AM
One of the things I enjoyed this year was this interview with Rasmus Bitsch where Tessa (@tessamuldvarp.bsky.social) and I discuss the work we have been doing mapping the history of racial classification in South Africa.
You can listen to this interview here: podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/a...
You can listen to this interview here: podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/a...
Reposted by Phila M. Msimang
📣 Our second call for abstracts for our special issue is out! 🙌
If you work on the intersection of human microbiomes, ethics and society in Africa, this call is for you! Check it out there: sajs.co.za/call-human-d...
If not, you can still spread the message widely!
#histbio #philbio🐋🌱
If you work on the intersection of human microbiomes, ethics and society in Africa, this call is for you! Check it out there: sajs.co.za/call-human-d...
If not, you can still spread the message widely!
#histbio #philbio🐋🌱
sajs.co.za
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
📣 Our second call for abstracts for our special issue is out! 🙌
If you work on the intersection of human microbiomes, ethics and society in Africa, this call is for you! Check it out there: sajs.co.za/call-human-d...
If not, you can still spread the message widely!
#histbio #philbio🐋🌱
If you work on the intersection of human microbiomes, ethics and society in Africa, this call is for you! Check it out there: sajs.co.za/call-human-d...
If not, you can still spread the message widely!
#histbio #philbio🐋🌱
Last night I had the honour of being inducted into the South African Young Academy of Science.
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Last night I had the honour of being inducted into the South African Young Academy of Science.
Today was a good start to our second week at the Berlin Institute for Advanced Study where Jonatan (the PI of our project) presented on the questions that have brought us together. The Q&A that we all participated in was quite interesting, too.
October 13, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Today was a good start to our second week at the Berlin Institute for Advanced Study where Jonatan (the PI of our project) presented on the questions that have brought us together. The Q&A that we all participated in was quite interesting, too.
Here I was talking about the consequences of the changes in classifications (and who was labelled as belonging in them) for conceptualising biological studies. Our discussion focused on the use of such classifications in microbiome research.
Amazing talk by @msimang.bsky.social at the "Human Diversity Dilemma" Workshop (@localmicrobes.bsky.social), Cape Town! Check out this great infographic on shifting racial classif. in South Africa 17-21C by @tessamuldvarp.bsky.social and Phila:
figshare.com/articles/fig...
#hpbio #philsky #race
figshare.com/articles/fig...
#hpbio #philsky #race
October 3, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Here I was talking about the consequences of the changes in classifications (and who was labelled as belonging in them) for conceptualising biological studies. Our discussion focused on the use of such classifications in microbiome research.
I’m looking forward to this conference by the Azanian Philosophical Society that will be hosted at Fort Hare this week.
See the full conference programme at the bottom of this page: www.theaps.org/conference-a...
See the full conference programme at the bottom of this page: www.theaps.org/conference-a...
August 25, 2025 at 11:47 AM
I’m looking forward to this conference by the Azanian Philosophical Society that will be hosted at Fort Hare this week.
See the full conference programme at the bottom of this page: www.theaps.org/conference-a...
See the full conference programme at the bottom of this page: www.theaps.org/conference-a...
We are also pleased to announce that our special issue for this event will be published by the South African Journal of Science.
CFA The Human Diversity Dilemma: Navigating the intersection of microbes, ethics & society
ISHPSSB Off-Year Workshop
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
October 1-3, 2025
Abstracts due Aug.18
Organizers @abigailnd.bsky.social & @msimang.bsky.social
#philsci #STS 🦠
More info ⤵️
ISHPSSB Off-Year Workshop
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
October 1-3, 2025
Abstracts due Aug.18
Organizers @abigailnd.bsky.social & @msimang.bsky.social
#philsci #STS 🦠
More info ⤵️
Home | The Human Diversity
perspectivesrace.wixsite.com
August 11, 2025 at 6:56 PM
We are also pleased to announce that our special issue for this event will be published by the South African Journal of Science.
Reposted by Phila M. Msimang
Save the date! Interdisciplinary Workshop:
The Human Diversity Dilemma: Navigating the Intersection of Microbiomes, Ethics, and Society in Africa
#hpbio #histbio #philbio 🌱🐋
Check the Call for Abstracts for our special issue on our website: perspectivesrace.wixsite.com/the-human-di...
The Human Diversity Dilemma: Navigating the Intersection of Microbiomes, Ethics, and Society in Africa
#hpbio #histbio #philbio 🌱🐋
Check the Call for Abstracts for our special issue on our website: perspectivesrace.wixsite.com/the-human-di...
June 10, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Save the date! Interdisciplinary Workshop:
The Human Diversity Dilemma: Navigating the Intersection of Microbiomes, Ethics, and Society in Africa
#hpbio #histbio #philbio 🌱🐋
Check the Call for Abstracts for our special issue on our website: perspectivesrace.wixsite.com/the-human-di...
The Human Diversity Dilemma: Navigating the Intersection of Microbiomes, Ethics, and Society in Africa
#hpbio #histbio #philbio 🌱🐋
Check the Call for Abstracts for our special issue on our website: perspectivesrace.wixsite.com/the-human-di...
Here is an infographic that Tessa Moll (@tessamuldvarp.bsky.social) and I made about the development of racial classifications in South Africa from 1652 to the present. A paper explaining its content is in the works. For now, feel free to download the infographic here: dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.f...
June 10, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Here is an infographic that Tessa Moll (@tessamuldvarp.bsky.social) and I made about the development of racial classifications in South Africa from 1652 to the present. A paper explaining its content is in the works. For now, feel free to download the infographic here: dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.f...
Reposted by Phila M. Msimang
New today: Iyer et al., "African Genetic Ancestry, Structural and Social Determinants of Health, and Mortality in Black Adults," jamanetwork.com/journals/jam....
Tl;dr: It's the 2nd (social determinants) that most effect the 3rd (mortality), not the 1st (genetic ancestry). Yet look where funding is!
Tl;dr: It's the 2nd (social determinants) that most effect the 3rd (mortality), not the 1st (genetic ancestry). Yet look where funding is!
African Genetic Ancestry, Social Determinants, and Mortality in Black Adults
This cohort study investigates the independent associations of African genetic ancestry and structural and social determinants of health with mortality among Black US adults.
jamanetwork.com
May 13, 2025 at 8:23 PM
New today: Iyer et al., "African Genetic Ancestry, Structural and Social Determinants of Health, and Mortality in Black Adults," jamanetwork.com/journals/jam....
Tl;dr: It's the 2nd (social determinants) that most effect the 3rd (mortality), not the 1st (genetic ancestry). Yet look where funding is!
Tl;dr: It's the 2nd (social determinants) that most effect the 3rd (mortality), not the 1st (genetic ancestry). Yet look where funding is!
Reposted by Phila M. Msimang
"...for protests to succeed, they must be backed by movements with the ability to promise to withhold—labor, debt payments, rent payments, or consumer support—and to follow through if demands aren’t met."
Glad to have gotten the opportunity to push this line in Time
time.com/collections/...
Glad to have gotten the opportunity to push this line in Time
time.com/collections/...
Why Protests Should Be Promises
Modern movements that aim to advance racial equity should withhold and promise, rather than perform, writes Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò
time.com
May 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
"...for protests to succeed, they must be backed by movements with the ability to promise to withhold—labor, debt payments, rent payments, or consumer support—and to follow through if demands aren’t met."
Glad to have gotten the opportunity to push this line in Time
time.com/collections/...
Glad to have gotten the opportunity to push this line in Time
time.com/collections/...
I enjoyed giving this presentation and the discussion that followed. I am thankful for the ROTO Research Group for having me.
A big thanks to @msimang.bsky.social for his insightful talk on racial and ethnic classifications in medicine yesterday! This was a great start into our Lecture Series in this semester. Thank you also to everyone who joined the talk and discussion! 🤗
#PhilSci #PhilMed #HPBio
#PhilSci #PhilMed #HPBio
April 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I enjoyed giving this presentation and the discussion that followed. I am thankful for the ROTO Research Group for having me.