Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

@mpiwg

An institute of the Max Planck Society, dedicated to the study of the history of science and of scientific thinking and practice as historical phenomena. 📍 Berlin, Germany

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Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· 5d

#CfA: Summer Academies "Science Imagines Its Future" (Berlin, June 2027 and 2028) for early career researchers. Organized by Lorraine Daston, Erika Milam, and David Kaiser. 🗓️ Deadline: Nov 1, 2026 🔗 tinyurl.com/ntc64jvu #HistSci #STS #Balzan

An array of parabolic radio-telescope dishes on an observatory pad aimed at a vibrant Milky Way band stretching across the night sky.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· 20d

Dept. "Artifacts, Action, Knowledge" is looking to hire a Graduate Assistant to support: 🖍️ copy-editing English-language academic texts 🗂️ maintaining reference databases 📚 researching and summarizing literature 🗓️ Deadline: Aug 21, 2026 🔗 tinyurl.com/mu5tend3 #HistSci #STS

Collage of three images. The first reads: "Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Career. We're hiring." The second image shows five people gathered around a desk in the Institute's library while two scholars are sitting at other desks in the background. The third image shows three people by the window in the Institute's hallway. Second and third image by Andreas Muhs (2026).

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· 23d

Our #DigitalHumanities team is looking to hire a Student Assistant with a focus on #MachineLearning or #DataScience 👩🏾‍💻👨🏻‍💻🧑🏼‍💻 #Archiving #Coding #Visualization 🗓️ Deadline: Aug 23, 2026 🔗 tinyurl.com/mu5tend3

Collage of three images. The first reads: "Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Career. We're hiring." The second image shows people on different levels of the Institute's entrance hall. The third image shows three people browsing bookshelves in the Institute's library. Second and third image by Andreas Muhs (2026).

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· 26d

#CfA: Dept. “Knowledge Systems and Collective Life” is looking to hire a new Student Assistant to support 📚 the department’s research activities 🖍️ the management and annotation of research materials 📋 the organization of scholarly events 🗓️ Deadline: Aug 21, 2026 🔗 tinyurl.com/mu5tend3 #HistSci

Collage of three images. The first reads: "Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Career. We're hiring." The second image shows bookshelves in the Institute's library (Photo by Vivienne Rischke, 2024). The third image shows the MPIWG Summer Publications Slam held in the Institute's library (Photo by Marvin Müller (2024).

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· 27d

📸 What did it take to make a #Photograph in the 19th century? The #IMPRS Predocs Jonathan Haid, Megan Briers, and Lena Kasten organized a workshop to reveal new insights into the fragility, skill, and experimentation behind early photographic practices. 🔗 tinyurl.com/2j9kz5d4 #HistSci

Maximilian Zeitler’s camera with a historical lens in the studio, set up to take a photograph. Source: Lena Kasten.

Black and white dry gelatine photograph of workshop participants.
Source: Maximillian Zeitler.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· 28d

#CfA: Research Group "China in the Global System of Science" is hiring a Predoctoral Scholar for the project "Scientific Empire: #Infrastructure Control & Ideational Binding in China’s International Big Science Projects," funded by @dfg.de unit FOR 5913/1. 🛰️ 🔗 tinyurl.com/mu5tend3 #HistSci #SciPol

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Jul 10

Join us at this year’s @eshhs.bsky.social/HSS Joint Meeting! We'll be hosting an exhibition stand, and several scholars are organizing panels, chairing sessions, and presenting their research. 📍 Edinburgh, Scotland 📆 Jul 12-16, 2026 🔗 buff.ly/2GvcFc9 #HistSci #HistSTM #ESHS-HSS

View over Edinburgh cityscape with the Dugald Stewart Monument in the foreground on a hill. Photo by KBielinski

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Jul 6

#CfA: The Max Planck–NTU Singapore Centre for Biocultural Worlding is appointing two Postdoctoral Scholars with a PhD in 🖼️ #MuseumStudies, 🏛️ #LegalHistory, 🔬 #ScienceStudies, 🦉 #HistSci ... or another related humanities field. 🗓️ Deadline: Aug 10, 2026 🔗 tinyurl.com/mu5tend3

Collage of three images. The first reads: "Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Career. We're hiring." The second image shows a researcher presenting at the March 2025 Publications Slam. The third shows a group of people at the institute's courtyard. Second image by Anna Ruhnow, MPIWG 2025. Third image by MPIWG, 2021.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Jul 6

Postdoctoral Scholar @chanelle.bsky.social is a participating artist at #BiennaleGherdëina 10, (Future) Paradise Gardens 🗻 The installation "Test Pit" bridges her established artistic practice with her current research at the MPIWG. 🗓️ May 31–Sept. 13, 2026 📍 Val Gardena 🔗 tinyurl.com/2s4dsvkn

Sign in front of the excavation sight, reading: "Please excuse the disruption. Excavation in progress." Photo by Tiberio Sorvillo.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Jul 3

#CfA: New fellowships in Dept. "Knowledge Systems and Collective Life" for researchers working on 📊 politics and practices of #Data, 📚️ histories of #Knowledge and collective life in Africa, or 🍂 #Environmental knowledge in times of crisis 🗓️ Deadline: Sep 15, 2026 🔗 tinyurl.com/mu5tend3 #HistSci

ALT: Collage of three images. The first reads: “Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Career. We’re hiring.” The second image shows a two people holding a thread. Image by: Mattheus Vaz (2022). The third image shows a scholar giving a talk at the MPIWG library. Image by: Anna Ruhnow (2025)

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Jun 29

Director Dagmar Schäfer has received the Special Book Award of #China 🏆 She is honored for her work on the history and present of Chinese science and #Technology. The award recognizes outstanding work that deepens the understanding of China abroad. 🔗 tinyurl.com/s8vf3bk2 #HistSci @maxplanck.de

Picture of the stage at the Special Book Awards of China, featuring an image of Director Dagmar Schäfer. Photo by Lingling Cai.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Jun 11

The project “China’s Science Silk Road & the New Geopolitics of Knowledge Production” has launched. The @volkswagenstiftung.de funded project examines how #China’s international cooperation in science, technology, & innovation is reshaping knowledge production. 🌐 🔗 sciencesilkroad.org #SocSci

Photo of project co-leads Han Cheng, Anna L. Ahlers, and Hang Zhou.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Jun 2

Next up: the final lecture in our Institute's Colloquium 2025/26 series "Rethinking Time in the History of Science." Wayan Jarrah Sastrawan on "Writing History beyond the Timeline: Traditions & Innovations" ⌛ 🗓️ Jun 9, 2026 (14:00 CET) 📍 MPIWG 🔗 buff.ly/vMvuCiP #HistSci #Historiography #DigiHum #DH

Poster of the MPIWG Institute’s Colloquium. It features the titles of its five events below an image that shows a colorful mixture of liquids in red, orange, yellow, green, and violet.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· May 21

For the final roundtable, Co-Deputy Director Saidul Islam was joined by Laura Miotto, Jonathan Galka, Ahmad Syarifuddin, and Debbie Ding to discuss "Grounding the Biocultural: Place, Landscape, and Living Knowledge." /4

The five panelists are sitting in a semi-circle and smiling at each other while Saidul Islam is talking. He has a microphone raised to his mouth and is looking at a sheet of paper in his hand. Photo by Alson Yong/Max Planck–NTU Centre for Biocultural Worlding.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· May 21

Their conversation was followed by another #Interdisciplinary roundtable. Chaired by Co-Deputy Director @lisaonaga.bsky.social, it brought together Novi Asti Lalasati, Firdaus Sani, Veronica Renner, and Michael Stanley-Baker for an exchange on "Biocultural Methods for Future Pasts." /3

The five panelists are sitting in a semi-circle. Michael Stanley-Baker is talking to the audience. Veronica Renner is taking notes. Photo by Alson Yong/Max Planck–NTU Centre for Biocultural Worlding.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· May 21

Co-Directors Dagmar Schäfer and Ute Meta Bauer delivered welcome addresses. Afterwards they were joined by Marian Pastor Roces and Nilüfer Oral for two keynote conversations on question of #KnowledgeOwnership, addressing the rights of nature, place, and culture. /2

Ute Meta Bauer standing next to a lectern in front of a green wall with a screen. She is talking to the audience and has a microphone raised to her mouth. Photo by Alson Yong/Max Planck–NTU Centre for Biocultural Worlding.

People in the audience looking at a large screen with the video image of Marian Pastor Roces who joined the conversation virtually. Photo by Alson Yong/Max Planck–NTU Centre for Biocultural Worlding.

Dagmar Schäfer, Nilüfer Oral, and Uta Meta Bauer sitting on chairs in a semi-circle. Nilüfer has a microphone raised to her mouth, she and Dagmar are looking at the audience. Photo by Alson Yong/Max Planck–NTU Centre for Biocultural Worlding.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· May 21

On April 20th, the Max Planck–NTU Singapore Centre for Biocultural Worlding (CBCW) was launched with an opening symposium in Singapore. The event assembled scholars and practitioners of various disciplines, engaging them in conversations on entanglements of biological diversity and cultural life. /1

People in the audience, photographed from the back at an angle. Photo by Alson Yong/Max Planck–NTU Centre for Biocultural Worlding.

A person in the audience taking a picture of Dagmar Schäfer with their phone. In the background Dagmar’s blurry contours can be seen in front of a screen. Photo by Alson Yong/Max Planck–NTU Centre for Biocultural Worlding.

Michael Stanley-Baker, Lisa Onaga, Dagmar Schäfer, and Nilüfer Oral in conversation. Michael is talking, Lisa and Dagmar are smiling. Photo by Alson Yong/Max Planck–NTU Centre for Biocultural Worlding.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· May 6

New vacancies 🌟 As part of the #EduTrack program, Dept. "Artifacts, Action, Knowledge" is hiring a #PostDoc to work on "Migratory Expertise and Practices of Knowledge Transmission" 🗓️ Deadline: June 7 📍 MPIWG Berlin 🔗 tinyurl.com/mu5tend3 #HistSci #STS

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· May 4

New vacancies 🌟 As part of the #EduTrack program, Dept. "Artifacts, Action, Knowledge" is hiring one #PostDoc to work on "Tackling the Digital Gap between Asia and Europe." 🗓️ Deadline: May 31 (open until filled) 📍 MPIWG Berlin 🔗 buff.ly/nlrNBq7 #HistSci #DH #STS @populationeu.bsky.social

Collage of three images. The first one (left) reads: "Max Planck History of Science—Career: We’re hiring!"
The second image (top right) shows the Institutes library with people researching. Copyright: Setform, 2017.
The third image (bottom right) shows a person coding on a Macbook, while simultaneously visiting a video webpage on a second laptop. Copyright: olia danilevich (Pexels).

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 29

Das MPIWG sucht zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine:n #Werkstudent:in für das Sachgebiet Einkauf und Finanzen 🛒 🌐 Unterstützung beim Aufbau unseres Vertragsmanagementsystems 💌 Assistenz bei der Rechnungsprüfung 🗂️ Mitarbeit an der Digitalisierung der Verwaltung 🔗 tinyurl.com/mu5tend3 #BerlinJob

Collage aus drei Einzelbildern. Das erste zeigt eine Grafik mit der Beschriftung: „Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Career. We’re hiring.“ Das Bild oben rechts zeigt eine Gruppe von Menschen im Innenhof des Instituts. Im Vordergrund sind mehrere
Blumen zu sehen. Foto: MPIWG, 2021. Das Bild unten links zeigt zwei Personen, die auf einer Bank in der Bibliothek sitzen. Foto: Setform, 2017.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 27

New book by alumnus Visiting Scholar David Robinson 📓 In "Ability and Difference in Early Modern China: A Mongol Family at the #Ming Court," Robinson traces the Wu family's fortune to offer a non-Han perspective on the inner workings of Ming #China. 🔗 tinyurl.com/f8s7h3xa #Sinology @colgate.edu

Book cover. It features the title in white and yellow letters. The background is a black-and-white photo of a statue of a bearded man in armor.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 22

The Max Planck–NTU Singapore Centre for Biocultural Worlding will bring together researchers, artists, curators, legal scholars, and knowledge-holding communities to explore the entanglement of biological diversity and cultural life. 🔗 tinylink.net/oLHvM

Photo of NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore director Professor Ute Meta Bauer; Director, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science Professor Dagmar Schäfer; NTU Chair of the School of Social Sciences Professor Yohanes Eko Riyanto; NTU Vice President (International Engagement) Professor Lee Pooi See; President of Max Planck Society Professor Patrick Cramer; German Ambassador to Singapore Dr Bettina Fanghänel; Chairman of the National Research Foundation, Singapore, Mr Heng Swee Keat; Chairperson of the NTU Board of Trustees, Ms Goh Swee Chen; NTU Deputy President and Provost Professor Christian Wolfrum; Director, Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Surfaces Professor Peter Seeberger; NUS Vice President (Industry) Professor Ursula Oesterle; A*STAR Executive Director, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Professor Loh Xian Jun; and NTU Distinguished University Professor Chen Xiaodong.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 16

🍇 New book edited by Senior Research Fellow Gabriel Rosenberg and Jan Dutkiewicz. In “Feed the People!” both authors argue that modern technology and smart policies can improve today’s food system and make it more accessible for everyone. 🔗 buff.ly/PQGqIqO #AgSci #EnvHum #HistSci

The cover of the book shows an orange-red tin can with the book's title written on it.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 14

New #OpenAccess book: "DAGA TUDAA. Pensées #Toubou II" 📕 Mahuma Abaliy Sediké explores how oral traditions such as proverbs, #Riddles, and tales convey broader knowledge on #Astronomy, pharmacopoeia, or clan brands in the Central Sahara. 🔗 buff.ly/iHlZliE #HistSci #OralHistory #Anthropology

Cover of a book on Toubou culture: a photo of a group with pack animals in a sandy Sahara landscape, with the French title "DAGA TUDAA. Pensées Toubou II" by Mahuma Abaliy Sediké printed beneath.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 13

The Berlin History of Knowledge Course List (KVV) for summer semester 2026 is now available online! This list conveniently compiles all history of knowledge and sciences courses from @humboldtuni.bsky.social, @tuberlin.bsky.social, and @freieuniversitaet.bsky.social. 🔗 buff.ly/JBZNqe8 #HistSci

Cover page of the KVV featuring logos of the MPIWG, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the TU Berlin, with a historical illustration in the background.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 10

New edited volume by Postdoc Xiao Alvin Yang, @chandrima-c.bsky.social, Sibo Chen, Muyang Li, Guida Man. 📘 "Anti-Asian #Racism and the #COVID19 Pandemic in Canada" examines a recent rise in anti-Asian racism and community strategies of defence and solidarity. 🔗 buff.ly/ECMmxH2 #HistSci #PolSci

Book cover of "Anti-Asian Racism and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada," edited by Chandrima Chakraborty, Sibo Chen, Muyang Li, Guida Man, and X. Alvin Yang. Teal background with stylized coronavirus particles. Title and editors' names in white text.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 9

We warmly congratulate Postdoc @chanelle.bsky.social on receiving the @eseh.bsky.social 2025 Bristol-Bern Prize in Public #EnvHist for her "outstanding" project "Ghost Tours: The Haunt of #EnvironmentalDegradation and #Colonialism." 🌿 🔗 buff.ly/sRq1Etg

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Apr 1

We're excited to welcome our new Journalist in Residence, Adrija Roychowdhury. Adrija will work on her project "Encoding Ancient History. The Curious Case of Mathematics, #ArtificalIntelligence, and the #IndusScript" at the MPIWG. 🔍 📰 🔗 buff.ly/SBJYSPn #SciComm @indianexpress.com

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Mar 3

Researcher Meg Briers participates in Brewing Minds in Vagabund Brauerei Kesselhaus! "Women Who Chased The Sun" deals with hidden & forgotten figures of 19th-century astronomical expeditions. 🗓️ Mar 18 (18:30–21:30) 📍 Oudenarder Str. 16–20 (Berlin) 🔗 bit.ly/4u3ASd 🎫 10.90–45.00€ #HistSci #Astronomy

Annie Maunder at the telescope ahead of the 1900 Total Solar Eclipse, Source: Maunder 1901 p.61 (full title of the book: The Total Solar Eclipse, 1900: Report of the Expeditions Organized by the British Astronomical Association to Observe the Total Solar Eclipse of 1900, May 28)

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science@mpiwg· Mar 2

The Max Planck NTU Singapore Center for #Biocultural Worlding is hiring a Scientific Coordinator. 🤝 coordinate research programs 🚀 facilitate collaboration with cultural and research institutions 🛰️ amplify #SciComm 🗓️ Deadline: open until filled 📍 Workplace: MPIWG Berlin 🔗 bit.ly/4k5DWSs #HistSci