Ivano Dal Prete

Ivano Dal Prete is a Senior Lecturer in History and History of Science, Medicine & Public Health (HSHM) at Yale University, serving as Director of Undergraduate Studies for HSHM. He specializes in the history of science from the late Middle Ages to the early 19th century, with a focus on Earth sciences, Renaissance scientific literature, and the interplay between science, religion, and society. His research challenges traditional narratives of geological time, arguing for medieval understandings of Earth's antiquity long before the 19th century.

His work includes the book *On the Edge of Eternity* (2022), exploring pre-modern perceptions of Earth's age, and numerous articles on topics like meteorology, scientific networks, and instrument diplomacy in Napoleonic Europe. He is an amateur astronomer and co-discoverer of asteroids, with upcoming work on extraterrestrial life narratives.

Key research interests involve vernacular science, material culture of astronomy, and the cultural history of generation theories. His interdisciplinary approach integrates textual analysis, archival work, and historical context to reveal how pre-modern ideas shaped modern scientific thought.