Younes Mahdavi

Younes Mahdavi is a Lecturer in the Department of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine at the University of Oklahoma (Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences). He specializes in the intellectual history of the Islamic world, with a focus on premodern Islamic scientific practices and their cultural exchanges across Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Mediterranean region.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Mathematics, University of Shahid Beheshti (Tehran), 2006
  • M.A. in History of Science, University of Tehran, 2009
  • Ph.D. in History of Science, University of Oklahoma, 2021

His research bridges historical scientific practices with their relevance in contemporary scholarship, emphasizing the Persianate world’s contributions to astronomy and mathematics. His recent work explores Safavid-era astronomy, including Bahāʾ al-Dīn ʿĀmilī’s role in science patronage and celestial studies.

Key publication trends include: Islamicate astronomy, premodern scientific continuity, cultural exchange, and encyclopedic contributions to Islamic scientific figures like Abū Saʿīd al-Sijzī and Abu’l-Wafāʾ Būzjānī. He also examines the intersection of science and diplomacy through figures like Ḥasdāi ibn Shibrūṭ.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Provost’s PhD Dissertation Prize (2021)

For contact, email ymahdavi@ou.edu or visit his office at 601 Elm, Room 621, Norman, OK, USA.