Lawrence Dritsas

Dr. Lawrence Dritsas is a Senior Lecturer in Science and Technology Studies at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science. His academic background includes a BA from Penn State University, MS from Virginia Tech, and PhD from the University of Edinburgh's Centre of African Studies. Prior to academia, he served as a Peace Corps biology teacher in Malawi.

Dritsas specializes in global history of science with emphasis on:

• African scientific exploration and colonial knowledge systems
• Environmental thought and natural sciences history
• Museum collections and expeditionary science
• British imperial science in Africa

His research consistently examines 19th-20th century scientific practices within colonial contexts.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2005-2017) reveals dominant themes in African exploration history, colonial science methodologies, and postcolonial analysis. Works frequently examine David Livingstone's expeditions, museum collections, and scientific knowledge production in Southern Africa.

Dritsas supervises doctoral candidates in science history and imperial studies. Major funded projects include:

• Carnegie Trust: Scottish collectors in Central Africa (1870-1930)
• ERC: Investigating Networks of Zoonosis Innovation
• Leverhulme Trust: Science in Central African Federation (1953-64)