Explaining Photosynthesis

Kärin Nickelsen is professor of history of science at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany. Her research interests focus on the field of history and philosophy of the life sciences, with a particular emphasis on methodological issues. She has published on topics ranging from the practices of natural history in the 18th century to the analysis of experimental physiology and biochemistry of the 19th / 20th centuries.

“Explaining Photosynthesis is an exceptionally clear book, with prose that is supplemented with very helpful diagrams. … examination of the progressive elucidation of the mechanisms of photosynthesis focuses on particular research communities without neglecting to at the same time consider the importance of individual contributions.” (Stéphane Tirard, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences, Vol. 41, June, 2019)“Kärin … gives a much needed historical and philosophical account of one of the major research projects in modern plant sciences. … Nickelsen boldly attempts to find some bridge between the history of science and the philosophy of science by identifying heuristic strategies based on her historical representation of photosynthesis research. … she provides not only a history of photosynthesis research, but also a critical history that seeks to extract more generalizable philosophical and sociological lessons from the subject.” (Andre M. Hahn, Philosophy & Theory in Biology, Vol. 18, 2016)

• Introduction.- 1. In Pursuit of a Pathway (1843-1918).- 2. Otto Warburg and the Turn to Manometry (1912-25).- 3. Struggling with the Standard Model (1930-41).- 4. The Maximum Quantum Yield Controversy (1937-55).- 5. The Path of Carbon in Photosynthesis (1937-1954).- 6. Elucidating the Light Reactions (1950-1961).- Epilogue.