Carsten Reinhardt

Carsten Reinhardt is Professor of Historical Science Studies at Bielefeld University's Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology, where he teaches in the Department of History and the international master's program ISoS. He serves as spokesperson for the board of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Science Studies (I2SoS) and is a principal investigator in the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1288, "Practices of Comparison."

Reinhardt's academic journey began with his MA and PhD in the history of science and technology from the Technical University of Berlin. He completed his habilitation in general science history at the University of Regensburg in 2003. His academic path included fellowships at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Pennsylvania, a visiting professorship at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, and a fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. After being appointed to Bielefeld University in 2006, he served as CEO and President of the Science History Institute in Philadelphia from 2013 to 2016 before returning to Bielefeld as Professor.

Reinhardt's research focuses on the history of natural and technical sciences in the 19th and 20th centuries, with particular emphasis on the history of the chemical industry, the history of the Max Planck Society, and the regulation of chemical production. His work explores epistemic and social uncertainty, and he has developed the concept of "residues" to reframe long-term chemical pollution of the environment. His scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary concerns about scientific practices, knowledge production, and the relationship between science and society.

Analysis of Reinhardt's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the history of chemistry and scientific practices, with increasing attention to environmental concerns and the concept of uncertainty in knowledge societies. His work spans institutional history, the development of scientific methods, and the relationship between science and industry, demonstrating both chronological depth (from 19th century chemical industry to contemporary practices) and methodological breadth (combining historical, sociological, and philosophical approaches).

• Robert K. Merton Book Award from the American Sociological Association, Science, Knowledge, and Technology Section (2023) for "Residues: Thinking Through Chemical Environments"

Reinhardt leads significant research projects including SFB 1288 "Practices of Comparison," GRK 724 "On the Way to the Scientific Society," and FOR 393 "Relationships between Science and Technology." He serves as one of the directors of the program on the history of the Max Planck Society and co-directs the project on the history of departmental research in Germany, 1918-1965, funded by BMWiK. His current projects include "Fellowship Residual Uncertainty: A Study on the Deep-time Effects of Chemical Industrialization" (2025) and research on "Comparing at the Interface of Physical Sciences and Life Sciences, 1960 to 2000" (2024).

Reinhardt is actively involved with the Center for Uncertainty Studies (CeUS) and the Institute for Studies of Science at Bielefeld University. He serves as spokesperson for the advisory board of the Center for Science Studies of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, demonstrating his leadership in shaping national discourse on science studies.