David Pretel

David Pretel is a historian specializing in the history of science and technology, economic history, and global history, with a focus on Latin America and the Atlantic World. Currently a Professor of Economic History at the Autonomous University of Madrid, he has also held academic positions at institutions including Pompeu Fabra University, El Colegio de México, and the European University Institute.

Research Interests

• Global history of commodity production
• Colonial and postcolonial technology systems
• Intellectual property rights in imperial contexts
• Environmental and labor history of tropical industries

Recent Publications & Projects highlight the interplay between technological change, colonial resource extraction, and globalization, including work on natural dyes, silver refining, and rubber production. His current project, Wild Rubber in the Industrial Age, funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant (€2M, 2024–2028), explores the global history of wild rubber production.

Scientific Awards

• Coopera Teaching Excellence Award (2023–2025)
• ERC Consolidator Grant (2024)
• Honorable mention for best article in Economic History by CMCH (2023)