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History of Science, Technology, and Medicine

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Dr. Hale speaking with graduate students Emily Laiben and Goutham Sukumaran

Hyetographic or Rain Map of the World

Photo of the book titled "A New Theory of the Earth" by William Whiston. The left-hand leaf shows a schematic drawing of the solar system with two comets and the orbits of the planets marked out with the sun in the center. All of the orbits, comet paths, and sun are labelled in Latin. On the right-hand leaf are the English words "of the Earth, from its Original, to the Consummation of all Things. Wherein the Creation of the World in Six Days, The Universal Deluge, and the General Conflagration, As laid down in the Holy Scriptures, Are shewn to be perfectly agreeable to Reason and Philosophy. With a large Introductory Discourse concerning the Genuine Nature, Stile, and Extent of the Mosaick History of the Creation. by William Whiston, M.A."

Photo of Professor Soppelsa discussing an early 20th century French postcard image on the large screen to his right

Photo of Professor Pandora talking with a student in the Western History Collections.

Photo of an exhibit of student work. The photo includes a mask that seems like a realistic, partial human face with glasses and a mustache. In the background are two photos, one labeled "Before" of a young man with part of his face disfigured; the other is the same young man wearing the mask. The explanatory text beneath the two photos is: "World War I Facial Prosthetic During World War I, explosions caused by shells led to deadly shrapnel. This fallout resulted in an estimated 20,000 facial injuries. When groundbreaking plastic surgery techniques did not work, facial sculptors stepped in. Anna Coleman Ladd devoted her time during WWI to sculpt facial prosthetics for disfigured soldiers. The prosthetic was created and painted by hand to match each individual person and injury. The mask would cover the facial damage and was attached with small ties around the ears, or more commonly with glasses. Facial hair was also added using real human hair or small strips of tinfoil. This allowed for survivors of war to have a sense of a restored face, close to the one they had before World War I."

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Welcome to HSTM!

We are a vibrant and active community of scholars. Interdisciplinary by nature, we bring a vital humanistic and historical perspective to bear in understanding the role of science, technology, and medicine in our complex world.

Our faculty are known internationally through their prolific publications, the extensive editorial work for the discipline’s flagship journals, and their participation in global collaborative projects and committees. Collectively our faculty has expertise ranging across the three fields of the history of science, technology, and medicine. Exciting recent research includes the history of AI, the history of the pregnant body, and evolution in Victorian Britain. We have particular strengths in science and religion, colonial and postcolonial histories of science, medicine, and technology, the history of meteorology and climate science, and the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and the environment.

We are pioneers in innovative teaching methods and provide our students with practical training alongside deep intellectual engagement. Our undergraduate classes encourage students to explore and develop diverse writing and communication skills from the standard long-form capstone paper to blogs, website engagement, and the production of physical and online exhibits. Our students leave our majors well prepared for diverse careers. Many of our students use our majors as launching pads for further study in medicine and allied disciplines. Our graduate programs provide students with rigorous study in the historical understanding of science, technology, and medicine. Our graduates have a successful record of obtaining jobs in the academy, in libraries, and in museums.

The University of Oklahoma is also host to the History of Science Collections and the Isis Bibliography in the History of Science, two important resources for the discipline worldwide.

News

Call for Applications: Taylor-Wei Dissertation Fellowship / Thanks to a generous gift, the Department of History of Science, Technology, and Medicine of the University of Oklahoma is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Taylor-Wei Dissertation Fellowship.
Cecilia Slane's "Weeding and Writing History" highlighted by NiCHE / PhD Candidate Cecilia Slane's column, "Weeding and Writing History," was recently highlighted as #EnvHist Worth Reading for August 2025 by the Network in Canadian History & Environment (NiCHE).
Cecilia Slane writes for AHA's Perspectives Daily / PhD candidate Cecilia Slane has written a 2 column series as a summer columnist for the American Historical Association's Perspectives Daily.
Matthew Stanley Presents "Choose your own apocalypse: nuclear war, asteroids, and scientific predictions of the end of the world" / Matthew Stanley presents the Michael Ruby Distinguished Lecture. April 18, 2025, 5:00-6:30pm, Nielsen Hall 170
OU HSTM Department attends Midwest Junto / Members of the OU HSTM department recently attended the 66th Midwest Junto for the History of Science at Missouri S&T

Events

Coffee & Conversation

HSTM Coffee & Conversation, every Friday morning during the regular academic year.

Location: Physical Science Center, 6th Floor, Room 626 (overflow in room 628)
Time: 9:00am - 11:00am (ish)

Everyone welcome; bring a friend!

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