Joppe van Driel

Joppe van Driel is a Research Scholar at the University of Twente, funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). His work focuses on the history of chemistry and governance in Western Europe (1700–1840), particularly the intersection of waste management, recycling, and socio-political imaginaries of 'oeconomy' (prudent resource management). He is completing his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Lissa Roberts as part of international research programs including 'Sites of Chemistry, 1760-1840' and 'Chemistry in Everyday Life'. Van Driel also co-designed the exhibition Wealth of Waste at Museum Boerhaave in Leiden.

• Education
  • MSc in History and Philosophy of Science (University of Utrecht)
  • BSc in Physics (University of Amsterdam)
  • BA in Philosophy (University of Amsterdam)

Van Driel’s research examines how 18th- and 19th-century European chemists framed waste (e.g., industrial residues, urban garbage) as a political and economic asset. His work connects chemical material/knowledge production to broader ideals of thrift, productivity, and public health, with a focus on Dutch-German transnational collaborations in salt refining and fertilizer recycling. He has taught courses in History, Philosophy of Science, Mathematics, and Experimental Physics.

His scientific accolades include the 2011 Dutch Thesis Award for his master’s thesis on Jean de Castillon and 18th-century anti-materialism. Van Driel collaborates with institutions like the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Berlin) and participates in digital humanities initiatives.