Slava Gerovitch

Slava Gerovitch is a Lecturer in the History of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Mathematics. He is also the Director of PRIMES (Program for Research in Mathematics, Engineering and Science for High School Students) and a leading scholar in Soviet science, cybernetics, and space exploration. His research bridges the history of mathematics, technology, and cultural memory, with a focus on Cold War-era Soviet systems.

• Education: PhD in History and Social Study of Science and Technology (MIT, 1999), PhD in History and Philosophy of Science (Russian Academy of Sciences, 1992), M.S. in Applied Mathematics (Gubkin Institute, 1985)

Gerovitch’s work examines the social infrastructure of Soviet mathematics, including informal groups and seminars. He has authored From Newspeak to Cyberspeak and Soviet Space Mythologies, analyzing propaganda, oral histories, and the intersection of rhetoric and science. His recent The Kitchen and the Dacha (2024) explores domestic spaces as hubs for mathematical innovation.

His publications span Soviet cybernetics, space history, and computing, reflecting his interest in transnational scientific movements and memory studies. Gerovitch’s 15 most recent works highlight trends in Cold War technology, mathematical culture, and propaganda dynamics, with subfields like human-machine interaction, ideological control, and digital utopias. Notable awards include the 2021 Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award and Historia Nova Prize finalist status (2016).

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2021 Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award (Winner)
  • 2016 Historia Nova Prize (Finalist)

Gerovitch mentors students through MIT’s PRIMES program and independent studies, advising names like Elena Fratto and David Darrow. He has secured grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA for projects on Soviet space and computing history. His media appearances include BBC’s The Things We Forgot to Remember and the NASA’s Unexplained Files TV series.