James Risk

James Risk is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of South Carolina, part of the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in History of Science, Technology, & Environment from the University of South Carolina (2017), an M.A. in Historical Studies from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (2011), and a B.A. in History from Fairmont State University (2008).

Risk’s research focuses on 19th-century maritime technologies, particularly the scientific policy and practice of the United States Lighthouse Establishment. His work explores the intersection of engineering expertise, republican governance, and technological innovation. He has been recognized with awards such as the Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation (2023) and the John A. & Annie Rice Excellence in Teaching Award (2015). His research has been supported by fellowships from institutions like the Linda Hall Library and the Rakow Research Library.

He teaches courses on science and technology history, crime and punishment, and sport history, emphasizing role-immersion techniques to enhance student engagement. He is editing a textbook on America’s founding documents with the University of South Carolina Press and directs an Honors College thesis on the origins of the Second Amendment. Risk is an active member of professional organizations such as the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) and the History of Science Society (HSS).