Collin Rice is an assistant professor of philosophy at Colorado State University. His research analyzes the philosophical assumptions behind how scientific communities make discoveries.   

While many views assume that science aims at truth, Rice’s research looks at the puzzling ways that it relies on idealized models that are known to be false to explain and understand what we observe. This includes models in biology, climate science, physics, economics and policymaking. Most recently, he has been investigating the ways that diversity, dissent and disagreement improve understanding between groups and the ways these skills can improve science communication and education efforts.  

Rice obtained his bachelor’s degree in physics and philosophy at Simpson College and earned his Ph.D from the University of Missouri. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Philosophy of Science.   

Rice’s research has been published in Biology and Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Synthese and more.