Sebastian Felten

Sebastian Felten is Tenure Track Professor of Early Modern History of Science at the Department of History, Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies, University of Vienna. He previously held positions as Universitätsassistent (Postdoc) at the University of Vienna (2019-2023), Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University's Europe Center (2022), and Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science Berlin (2015-2018).

His educational background includes:

• PhD in History from King's College London (2011-2015)
• M.A. in Early Modern History from King's College London (2010-2011)
• B.A. in History and German Literature and Linguistics from Humboldt-Universität Berlin (2005-2009)

Professor Felten's research focuses on the history of earth sciences, history of technical sciences, historical epistemology, history of knowledge, sustainability, resources, bureaucracy, and financial history. His work bridges the history of science with social, cultural, and economic history, particularly examining knowledge about nature through mineral resources in metallurgy, mineralogy, economics, and ergonomics. His research explores how early modern resource extraction in Central Europe developed contradictory rationalities that continue to influence modern approaches to resource management.

His recent publications demonstrate a growing focus on administrative practices in mineral resource extraction, bureaucratic knowledge systems, and the history of money. The trend shows increasing engagement with sustainability issues, resource management, and the intersection of scientific knowledge with bureaucratic and administrative practices in early modern Europe, connecting historical analysis to contemporary environmental challenges.

Scientific awards and recognition:

• King's College London, Jinty Nelson Prize
• King's College London, Early Modern History Prize

Professor Felten serves as Principal Investigator for the ERC Starting Grant "Sustained Concerns: Administration of Mineral Resource Extraction in Central Europe, 1550-1850" (SCARCE, 2023-2028), which explores historical approaches to resource management to inform contemporary debates on environmental sustainability. He co-convenes the Forschungsschwerpunkt Wissenschaftsgeschichte and the AG Wissenschaftsgeschichte, a monthly colloquium on the history of science, and has received funding from various sources including the Zukunftsfonds of the Republic of Austria.

Professor Felten is actively involved in the Key Research Area History of Science at the University of Vienna and serves as a reviewer for prominent journals including History of Science, Nuncius, and Isis. He is also a remote referee for the European Research Council and maintains affiliations with professional organizations including the History of Science Society and Renaissance Society of America.