Historian of Science

What is a Science Historian?

Science historians study the history of natural science. Because science is a vast discipline, many science historians specialize in a particular area of science or time period. Yet more often than not, regardless of their area of specialization, a science historian typically holds a PhD in history or the history of science. Those who hold a master’s degree in the history of science typically work in museums or other non-academic settings.

What Does a Science Historian Do?

A science historian’s primary responsibility is to research and write about the history of science. They may also teach courses on the history of science at the college or university level, publish articles in scholarly journals, and give public lectures on their research.

Research

Science historians use a variety of research methods to learn about the history of science. They may study primary sources, such as letters, diaries, and laboratory notebooks. They may also study secondary sources, such as books and articles written by other historians. Some science historians also conduct oral history interviews with scientists who were involved in important scientific discoveries.

Writing

Science historians write about their research in a variety of formats. They may write books, articles, or blog posts. Science historians often write for a general audience, but they may also write for a more specialized audience of scholars.