Joseph Pitt receives 2013 Alumni Award for Excellence in Research
Joseph Pitt, professor of philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has received the university's 2013 Alumni Award for Excellence in Research.
Sponsored by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the Alumni Award for Excellence in Research is presented annually to as many as two Virginia Tech faculty members who have made outstanding research contributions. Alumni, students, faculty, and staff may nominate candidates. Each recipient is awarded $2,000.
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1971, Pitt has pursued an academic career centered on the history and philosophy of science and technology. After identifying specific philosophical research questions associated with engineering design, Pitt made a concerted effort to integrate his view of philosophy and technology into mainstream discussion. In 1978, he developed the Humanities, Science, and Technology program in the Center for Programs in the Humanities. He directed the program for 10 years.
In 1980, Pitt became founding director of the Center for the Study of Science in Society and participated in the development of the graduate program in science and technology studies. He served a total of 13 years as head of the Department of Philosophy and currently serves as director of undergraduate studies for the department.
Pitt has written four books, edited a dozen, and published more than 50 articles and book reviews. A past president of the Society for Philosophy and Technology, he is the current editor-in-chief of "Techne,’ Research in Philosophy and Technology," the official journal of the society. He was also founding editor of the journal, "Perspectives on Science: Historical, Philosophical, Social"
Pitt has received several teaching awards and is a member of Virginia Tech’s Academy of Teaching Excellence. He helped develop the graduate program, Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought and is a Senior Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Center for the Philosophy of Science.
Pitt received a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario (Canada).
