Tribute to Jon Hodge

When I finally put down my pipette and quit life as a research fellow in molecular biology to study for a masters in HPS, I found myself on a very steep learning curve with many challenges. But throughout this tough intellectual rollercoaster ride, Jon was an absolute rock - a great source of unflagging inspiration, encouragement and support. One of the greatest lessons he taught me was in a public lecture he gave with Dr. Laura Sellers in the popular ‘History and Philosophy of Science in 20 Objects’ series in 2016 where his take-home-message to the audience was to beware the siren-song of seductively over-simplistic stories in a complex world. It was intended at the time as a lesson in thinking critically about popular narratives when studying the history of science, but as I look at the world around us in 2025, I find that Jon’s words have a relevance and urgency that echo far, far beyond the seminar rooms and lecture theatres of academia. Thanks Jon, you'll be missed.