Jesse Olszynko-Gryn

Jesse Olszynko-Gryn is a Research Scholar and Head of the Laboratory for Multimodal History in the Department of Knowledge Systems and Collective Life at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. His scholarly work focuses on the intersection of history, technology, and reproduction in Britain and the United States since 1900.

Dr. Olszynko-Gryn's research interests span multiple disciplines:

• History of reproduction and reproductive technologies
• History of science and medicine
• Gender studies and feminist health activism
• Visual culture and time-lapse cinematography
• Oral history methodologies
• Science communication and public engagement

His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on reproductive history, with particular attention to pregnancy testing, contraceptive technologies, and the politics of population control. Olszynko-Gryn employs multimodal approaches to historical research, incorporating film, oral histories, and digital methods to explore how communities produce and communicate knowledge about reproduction. His 2023 book A Woman's Right to Know: Pregnancy Testing in Twentieth-Century Britain published by MIT Press has received significant attention from media outlets including NursingClio and Wellcome Collection.

Olszynko-Gryn leads several collaborative projects including 'Communities of Reproductive Knowledge,' 'CORAL: Commoning Oral Histories of Knowledge,' 'Living Knowledge,' and 'Risky Hormones,' which partners with patient groups to examine how communities challenge biomedical knowledge. His work bridges academic history with public engagement, often partnering with community organizations to create more inclusive historical narratives about reproduction and healthcare.