Peter Galison

Peter Galison is the Joseph Pellegrino University Professor at Harvard University, where he bridges the history of science, philosophy, and digital media. Holding a dual PhD (1983) in theoretical high-energy physics and the history of science, his work explores the intersections of scientific practice, material culture, and technology.

• Education: BA in Physics (Harvard, 1977), MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science (Cambridge, 1978), PhD (Harvard, 1983).

Galison’s research spans the history of experimentation, the philosophy of black holes, and the relationship between technology and identity. He pioneered interdisciplinary collaborations, notably co-founding the Black Hole Initiative and directing the Critical Media Practice program at Harvard.

His acclaimed documentaries, Secrecy (2008) and Containment (2015), examine nuclear secrecy and long-term radioactive waste management. Collaborations with artist William Kentridge, such as The Refusal of Time (2012), highlight his engagement with visual and conceptual cultures of science.

• Scientific Awards: MacArthur Fellow (1997), Pfizer Award (1998), Max Planck/Humboldt Prize (1999).