Office for History of Science and Technology

Existing on the Berkeley campus since 1973, the Office for History of Science and Technology (OHST) promotes research, intellectual exchange, and public engagement in the history of science and technology. The Office cooperates with the Department of History to offer an MA/PhD in the history of science.  Now an integral part of the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine, & Society, the Office continues to provide research facilities and assistance to scholars and students, as well as organizing international exchanges, conferences, public colloquia and a working group. Among the publications of the Office is Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences, a leading journal in the field, and a monograph series: the Berkeley Papers in History of Science. The Office welcomes visiting scholars from all over the world.

 
Faculty

Director:
Massimo Mazzotti, Associate Professor, Department of History

The Office for History of Science and Technology is affiliated with faculty from many departments, including Berkeley's History Department. View list of associated faculty.




Graduate Students


Prospective Graduate Students:
At Berkeley, students learn to see the practice of science as related to its cultural, intellectual, and historical context. Read more

View a list of current History of Science Graduate Students




Quantum Physics Collections


Between 1961 and 1964, a wide-ranging project was carried out under the rubric “Sources for History of Quantum Physics.” A research committee composed of Thomas Kuhn, John Heilbron, Paul Forman, and Lini Allen interviewed nearly one hundred people involved in the development of quantum physics. The current OHST collections include 355 microfilms and 774 files of paper documents. Read more
Visiting Scholars

The Center for Science, Technology, Medicine, & Society accepts requests for Visiting Scholar status from academics with a Ph.D. or equivalent who have research related to the Center’s areas of interest that require Berkeley resources. Graduate students with projects to be carried out in Berkeley may apply for Visiting Student status. View our current Visitors.

If you are interested in becoming a visiting scholar at CSTMS, read more here.
Events

Colloquia: A seminar series of invited lectures that is hosted by CSTMS, on Thursday from 4-6pm in 470 Stephens Hall during each semester. Find out who is speaking, or watch past Colloquia.

OHST Working Group: Informal lunchtime seminars to discuss ongoing research and other projects.
Learn more about the Group.
Publications

Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences
HSNS(Formerly known as HSPS) is an international quarterly journal published by the University of California Press for the OHST, UC Berkeley. Read more

Berkeley Papers in History of Science:
Edited essay collections, research tools, and historical inquiries published by the Office for History of Science and Technology. Read more

Upcoming OHST Events