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With the help of the Science History Institute’s unique collections, we chronicle the powerful influence of science on our complicated and often strange world.
Our librarians and archivists are happy to provide research assistance and reference services.
A biochemist who made lasting contributions to medicine, Daly was the first Black woman to receive a PhD in chemistry.
The Science History Institute is a free museum and library that collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the stories behind the science.
Singer helped decipher the human genetic code—the chemical language that DNA uses to create the proteins that keep our bodies going and growing. One of her special concerns was recombinant DNA technology.
In recognition of his theoretical work on the course of chemical reactions Hoffmann received the 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
A pioneer in nanotechnology, Hammond is Vice Provost for Faculty and Institute Professor at MIT, cofounder of MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, and a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.
Science’s centuries-long hunt for a common language.
One of the 18th century’s most preeminent experimental scientists, Priestley is best remembered for discovering oxygen. He was also a conspicuous figure in the revolutionary politics of his day.
Berzelius is best remembered for his experiments that established the law of constant proportions.
In a polymer research lab at DuPont, Kwolek discovered the super fiber known as Kevlar.
Through his important contributions to the theory of atomic weights, Cannizzaro guided his fellow chemists through a crucial time.
The Belgian-born chemist and entrepreneur Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic.
From government biologist to celebrity author, Carson captivated audiences. She promoted an appreciation for nature and an awareness of harm to the environment.
As a postdoctoral researcher, Molina proposed that CFCs had the potential to destroy Earth’s protective ozone layer. The Mexican chemist eventually received a Nobel Prize for his discovery.
Pauling, a Nobel laureate and prolific researcher, made significant contributions to our understanding of chemical bonding and structure.
The Frees revolutionized diagnostic urine testing with their invention of a chemically coated paper dipstick.
The grandson of enslaved people, Julian overcame racial barriers to achieve scientific, business, and personal success.
In 1934 Beckman invented the first commercially successful electronic pH meter and then went on to found an international scientific instruments company.
In 1971 Berg’s landmark gene-splicing experiment opened the door to the invention of recombinant DNA technology.
Considered the father of modern chemistry, Lavoisier promoted the Chemical Revolution, naming oxygen and helping systematize chemical nomenclature.
Brady was a leading science educator and the first African American to receive a doctorate in chemistry in the United States.
The Othmer Library is open to researchers by appointment only Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm.
Get to know the instrumentation pioneer who contributed to the intellectual and material developments that defined 20th-century science.
Our Center for Oral History conducts professional life interviews with scientists and engineers. We also offer training in interviewing techniques and best practices.
The Science History Institute hosts a variety of conferences throughout the year, as well as smaller workshops and symposia.
The Center for Oral History provides training in the methodologies, interviewing techniques, and best practices of oral history.
With nine flexible event spaces to choose from in our Conference Center, guests can find accommodations for any event.
Equipped with a stage, podium, and built-in AV, our largest space can accommodate a range of events, from multi-day conferences to lectures and receptions.