{"id":2627,"date":"2026-10-07T11:29:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T10:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/chstm\/?p=2627"},"modified":"2026-10-07T12:55:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T11:55:56","slug":"chstm-research-seminar-17-november-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/chstm\/2026\/10\/07\/chstm-research-seminar-17-november-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"CHSTM Research Seminar, 17 November 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ link_option_url=”https:\/\/mooncontactzone.wordpress.com\/” global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” background_layout=”dark” module_class=”main-navigation” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner locked=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.0.106″ title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”above” text_color=”dark” text_background=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Battery Agnotology and the Roots of the Tobacco Strategy” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Battery Agnotology and the Roots of the Tobacco Strategy<\/h2>\n

Professor Joseph D. Martin (Durham University)<\/h3>\n

17 November 2026, 4pm<\/strong>
CHSTM Seminar Room: Simon 2.57 [maps and travel<\/a>]
Online Access: TBC<\/p>\n

Abstract<\/h4>\n

The \u2018tobacco strategy\u2019, engineered to throw doubt on scientific consensus, was hatched in the mid-1950s as the epidemiological connection between smoking and lung cancer was becoming irrefutable. It has since been deployed to stymie regulation of fossil fuels, pesticides, and all manner of industrial effluent. But although its rise and dissemination are well documented, its origins remain murky. I propose a new origin story.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In December 1953, tobacco company executives met in New York to plot their response to the solidifying consensus that cigarettes caused cancer. This much is well documented. Less well explored is the context that likely informed their discussions. In the months leading up to that fateful meeting, the national press reported closely on a controversy over battery additives. Jess Ritchie, a California entrepreneur, had sought relief from the new Dwight Eisenhower administration after his product, a packet of salts meant to prolong the life of car batteries, was declared useless by the US National Bureau of Standards. Allen Astin, the bureau\u2019s director, was fired. The ensuing outcry from the scientific community led to Astin\u2019s reinstatement, but also to months of public controversy, including high-profile Senate hearings, in which the Ritchie called NBS testing into question. As Astin was reinstated, all regulatory action against Ritchie\u2019s company was also lifted.<\/p>\n

This talk shows how Jess Ritchie brought together the central components of what later became known as the tobacco strategy, and in doing so set an example of successful doubt mongering. The case that the tobacco executives looked to Ritchie for inspiration remains circumstantial, but the circumstances are powerfully compelling. And at minimum, attending to this case is essential for appreciating the context in which the tobacco strategy was crafted.<\/p>\n

Joseph D. Martin<\/strong> is a historian (and occasional philosopher) of science and technology at the Durham University Department of History, where he teaches about the history of modern science and technology and writes about the history of twentieth-century scientific institutions and ideals. Please visit his personal website for more information<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.17.6″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.17.6″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Related<\/h1>\n

Related posts:<\/h3>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>

Collecting, Studying, Controlling Animals in East Asia<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

CHSTM Research Seminar: 22 November 2022<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

CHSTM Research Seminar, 3 February 2026<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.17.6″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” module_class=”footer-section” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”1611″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”1611″ locked=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”1611″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”1611″ text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” parent_locked=”off” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”contact-us” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

+44 (0) 161 306 6000<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”1611″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Find Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”1611″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”1611″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Connect With Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” global_parent=”1611″ parent_locked=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n