Institute for Scientific History Announces 2025-2026 Beckman Center Fellows
The Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry, located at the Science History Institute, is welcoming a diverse group of scholars for the 2025-2026 academic year. These fellows will delve into the history of chemistry and related scientific fields, shedding light on both successes and failures, and broadening our understanding of the intersection between science and society.
The Senior Fellows for the Beckman Center include Claiton Marcio da Silva from the Federal University of the Southern Frontier, Brazil, Sarah Everts from Carleton University, Canada, and Jacqueline Robinson, an Independent Scholar. Their research topics span a wide range, from Claiton's exploration of Dow Chemical controversies in Brazil, to Sarah's investigation into the evolution of our sense of smell, and Jacqueline's study of William A. Lester, Jr., a chemist and educational pioneer.
David Soares Mesquita's research will focus on integrating alchemy into academic medicine, while Adam Quinn's work will delve into the history of prosthetics. Nikhil Dharan will examine colonial alchemies in South India, and Adriana Fraser will explore biological weapons research and biosafety.
The Short-Term Fellows for the Beckman Center also represent a diverse group of scholars. Among them are Nikhil Dharan from the University of Pennsylvania, Caroline Douglas from the Royal College of Art, UK, Adriana Fraser from the University of Pennsylvania, Muskan Garg from the University of Toronto, Canada, Nayanika Ghosh from Duke University, Nicole Liao from the University of Toronto, Canada, David Soares Mesquita from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, Léon Pradeau from the University of Chicago, Audrey Rankin from Temple University, and a fellow whose name is not specified.
Their research topics are as varied as their backgrounds, with Muskan Garg mapping the global circulation of industrial dyeing knowledge, and Nayanika Ghosh examining the emergence of feminist science critique in the postwar United States. Samantha Wesner is a Haas/NEH Postdoctoral Research Fellow, while Csaba Olasz is an Allington Dissertation Fellow at the Beckman Center.
During their time at the Beckman Center, the fellows will engage in research discovery, lab tours, workshops, and research talks, fostering an active scholarly environment. The Science History Institute is home to the largest private fellowship program in the historical study of science, medicine, and technology in the United States, making it an ideal setting for these scholars to further their research and contribute to our understanding of the history of science and technology.
References: [1] The Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sciencehistory.org/programs/beckman-center [2] The Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry. (2025-2026). Retrieved from https://www.sciencehistory.org/programs/beckman-center/fellows [3] The Science History Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sciencehistory.org/ [4] The Science History Institute. (2022, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.sciencehistory.org/news/2022/08/beckman-center-announces-2022-2023-class-fellows [5] The Science History Institute. (2022, May 20). Retrieved from https://www.sciencehistory.org/news/2022/05/beckman-center-announces-2022-2023-class-short-term-fellows
- Thehistory of chemistry, being a significant part of science, is being explored by the diverse group of scholars at the Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry during their tenure, delving into various aspects such as Dow Chemical controversies, alchemy, prosthetics, and the evolution of our sense of smell.
- One'sunderstanding of science and education-and-self-development can be broadened by studying the history of chemistry, as demonstrated by the researchers at the Beckman Center, who are also engaged in lab tours, workshops, and research talks, fostering an active scholarly environment.
