
The Washington Post: The Idea of Herd Immunity to Manage the Coronavirus Should Ring Alarm Bells
Institute fellow Rebecca Kaplan explains the concept’s origins in veterinary medicine.
“While herd immunity is the theory behind vaccine programs, the concept originated in veterinary medicine and livestock management in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” says Rebecca Kaplan, a historian of medicine and public health who is the Institute’s current postdoctoral fellow in residence. “This matters because in this setting, economics rather than ethics served as a guiding force.”
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Science History Institute Welcomes 2025–2026 Beckman Center Fellows
Scholars from around the world will study a wide range of topics in the history and social studies of chemistry, chemical engineering, and the life sciences.
2025 Curious Histories Fest Celebrates School Lunch History with Pickle Tastings, Cooking Demos, Ice Cream, and More
Visitors explore the science of food—and fun!—at Institute’s “What’s for Lunch?” festival.
Science History Institute Launches Library Tour Program
Guided tours of the Othmer Library of Chemical History begin June 18.