In recognition of her exceptional scholarship and service, the International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB) has awarded the prestigious 2025 David L. Hull Prize to IHPST Emeritus Professor Mary Pickard Winsor, widely known as Polly Winsor. Bestowed biennially, the prize honors Winsor’s groundbreaking contributions to the history of taxonomy and her influential role as a scholar and mentor—making her the first Canadian and second woman to receive this distinction.
Established in 2011, this Prize commemorates the life and legacy of David L. Hull (1935–2010), a visionary scholar renowned for his work in the philosophy of biology. Hull’s career was marked by his dedication to fostering interdisciplinary connections between history, philosophy, social studies, and biology. The prize reflects Hull’s commitment to supporting scholars at all stages of their careers, including those in the early stages, while also recognizing lifetime achievements.
Polly Winsor was awarded for her transformative work in the history of taxonomy. Gregory Radick, chair of the prize committee, emphasized in his citation that Winsor’s scholarship has reframed the field, making taxonomy a dynamic area of study for historians of biology, philosophers, and scientists alike. Through her research, Winsor has also offered fresh insights into the understanding of natural kinds and classification.
During the award ceremony in July, the committee also celebrated Winsor’s lasting influence beyond her publications. As a mentor, she has guided generations of junior scholars and helped shape the careers of figures such as Peter Bowler, Sharon Kingsland, Gordon McOuat, Jamie Elwick, Sara Scharf, and Keynyn Brysse. Her dedication to mentoring—particularly through her involvement with the Joint Atlantic Seminar in the History of Biology and ISHPSSB— has made her a highly esteemed figure in the academic community.
Winsor began her academic journey with a BA in the history of science from Harvard, followed by a PhD in the History of Science and Medicine from Yale. Her dissertation on early nineteenth-century naturalists’ approaches to taxonomic complexities laid the foundation for her first book, Starfish, Jellyfish, and the Order of Life: Issues in Nineteenth-Century Science—the first of many influential works. Though she retired over twenty years ago, Winsor has continued to shape the field, publishing a series of groundbreaking papers that challenge long-held beliefs and deepen our understanding of evolutionary theory. Her recent work includes a three-part dialogue on the concept of “affinity” and a re-interpretation of extinction’s role in Darwin’s evolutionary thought.
The 2025 Hull Prize Committee—chaired by Gregory Radick and including Rachel Ankeny, Maria Elice de Brzezinski Prestes, Pierre-Olivier Méthot, and Marsha Richmond—emphasized the importance of diversity in nominations. They sought to recognize individuals who exemplify the spirit of Hull’s legacy: those who build interdisciplinary bridges and foster a culture of support among peers. In Radick’s citation it was noted that Polly Winsor, “over the arc of her long career […] has not only gone from strength to strength but has consistently enlarged the scope and ambition of her work, in ways that make her not only one of the most consistently exciting and illuminating historians of biology writing today but a model for the rest of us. The 2025 David L. Hull Prize is fitting recognition for her inspiring—and ongoing—achievement.”