Nicholas Buchanan

Dr. Nicholas Buchanan is a faculty member at University College Freiburg, University of Freiburg, where he serves as Program Coordinator for the Science – Technology – Society (STS) Teaching Program. He holds a PhD from MIT in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society, and previously held visiting and affiliated faculty positions at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. His academic engagement includes membership in the Board of Studies for the Liberal Arts and Sciences program (2024–2026).

• PhD in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2010)
• BA in Geography – University of California at Berkeley (2002)

Dr. Buchanan's research explores the interplay between science, technology, and ideologies of control, particularly in contexts involving state power, indigenous environmental conflicts, and legal epistemologies. He critically examines how scientific knowledge is mobilized in political debates, such as the legalization of forensic DNA phenotyping in Germany, where he analyzes how such technologies are framed as solutions to societal uncertainty and fear. His teaching includes courses in science and technology studies, environmental studies, the history of technology, and ethics and law in science and technology.

As Program Coordinator for the STS Teaching Program, he supports student-initiated seminars and interdisciplinary courses that investigate the complex interactions between science, technology, and society. He is actively involved in shaping interdisciplinary curricula and fostering critical engagement with sociotechnical issues.

Dr. Buchanan has no listed scientific awards in the provided text. However, his scholarly work is embedded in critical academic discourse and institutional leadership within STS. He advises on academic programming and curriculum development, though no formal PhD or Master’s students are listed.

He is affiliated with the Science – Technology – Society initiative at University College Freiburg and has maintained academic ties with the Program in the History of Science and Technology at the University of Minnesota. His ongoing work bridges historical analysis, sociopolitical critique, and pedagogical innovation in interdisciplinary education.