Matthew Daniel Eddy

Matthew Daniel Eddy is a Professor and Chair in the History and Philosophy of Science at Durham University, with roles as Co-Director of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies and the Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease. He holds fellowships at the Institute for Medical Humanities and Durham CELLS. His research focuses on the cultural history of science, medicine, and technology in modern Europe, emphasizing how diverse groups used science and media to shape knowledge claims about nature and society. Notable works include Media and the Mind (2023) and The Language of Mineralogy (2008).

• Affiliations: Durham University Department of Philosophy, Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease
• Education: Career path includes Princeton, MIT, Harvard, and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (no explicit academic degrees listed)

Research Interests: His work spans Science and Technology Studies, Environmental Humanities, and Medical Humanities. He explores how media technologies, notebooks, and data systems were used by marginalized groups like Black physicians to challenge scientific racism. Current projects include a book on colonial data activism and collaborations on historical figures like Caroline Herschel and Jane Ewbank.

Publications & Awards: Over 40 articles and 7 edited volumes. Awards include the Pickstone Prize and fellowships from Harvard, the Max Planck Institute, and Wellcome Trust. His work has been featured in BBC documentaries and media outlets.

Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD students (e.g., Bing Yu) and leads AHRC-funded projects on astronomical notebooks and colonial instructions. Collaborates internationally on topics like gender in science and Chinese translations of historical texts.

Labs/Teams: Coordinates interdisciplinary teams at Durham and Uppsala, including work on Dr. James McCune Smith’s activism and the gendered science diaries of Jane Ewbank.