History and Science

The History and Science concentration is perfectly designed to make a student look well-rounded, providing a convenient boost to any resume. The reason? It’s neither history, nor science, but both.

Don’t you dare confuse the concentration with the department, which is clearly labeled History of Science. The reason for the difference in nomenclature is that the concentration is interdisciplinary (that’s all the rage these days!), while the department is not. The field is based on the premise that scientific developments are deeply contextual: political, economic, and social considerations determine the shape of the scientific world. This means that the concentration encompasses almost everything, and theses written in the department often resemble those from the History, Anthropology, Social Studies, or History and Literature departments. Flexibility—what a novel concept for Harvard!

The concentration requires students to take science classes in one area of the student’s choosing, which can range from chemistry to mathematics to psychology; one can even choose a social science like economics. The rest of the concentration requirements are “sociocultural” classes (almost anything can count if you make a case for it) and classes and tutorials in the History of Science department itself.

The concentration also boasts some of the best advising at Harvard. The director of programs, Allie Belser, and the new director of undergraduate studies, Steven Shapin, are always willing to talk. You’ll usually find Shapin in the lounge on the 3rd floor of the new wing of the Science Center, lurking around the sandwiches and muffins. The concentration also throws a Christmas party at the Sheraton Commander, white wine included. And while the department does require a senior thesis, it softens the blow with a few champagne receptions.

The History of Science department has quite a few faculty superstars. After a leave of absence last year due to illness, Everett I. Mendelsohn—a History of Science fixture for 45 years—has returned to teach a junior seminar (History of Science 90w, “The Atom Bomb in History and Culture”) and a freshman seminar (43q, “Historian and the Genes–From Mendel to Human Clones”). Students can enjoy his pseudo-British accent (à la Reverend Gomes) and bathe in his deep knowledge of all things Larry Summers.

An efficient Italian with shocking dark curly hair, Mario Biagoli is on leave in the fall. So teaching Renaissance science is left to a visiting lecturer on the History of Italian Civilization, Paolo Galluzzi; he comes to Harvard from the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, where he is collaborating with the Uffizi Gallery on an exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci. Coincidentally enough, it’s the subject of his course, History of Science 111v, “Leonardo da Vinci: The Science of Art and the Art of Science.”

The new chair of the department, Anne Harrington, is one of the most popular professors in the College. She has a no-nonsense personality, her lectures are jam-packed with information, and she’s one of the sharpest teachers around. Be sure to shop her class, History of Science 177, “Stories Under the Skin: The Mind-Body Connection in Modern Medicine.”

And this year, Darwin will make a triumphant return to Harvard: Mendelsohn used to teach a Darwin Core class, but professor Janet Browne, a new (female!) hire who somehow managed to survive a Summers-era tenure process—will teach Historical Study B-45, “The Darwinian Revolution” in the spring. It turns out she was more fit for the Harvard environment than Larry.

Potential concentrators should try out a class to see how they like the concentration and its department—and then revel in the fact that everything from computer science to religion courses can fulfill requirements. And if you have electives to spare, it’s worth browsing the departmental classes. They are small, well-taught, and intellectually engaging—if you don’t mind a lot of reading and long discussions around a small table. And don’t worry—even if it puts you to sleep, “bathroom breaks” to pick up some coffee at the Greenhouse Cafe are just down the hall.