معرفی
W. R. Laird is an Adjunct Associate Professor of History of Science at the University of Oklahoma. He holds a B.A. from Concordia University, and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. His research focuses on ancient, medieval, and Renaissance science, particularly mechanics and the science of motion, bridging the gap between Aristotelian traditions and early modern scientific developments.
He has held prestigious fellowships including the Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellowship (2012), Renaissance Society of America Visiting Research Fellowship (2015), and Dibner Fellowship (2009). His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, analyzing technical treatises, scholastic debates, and early engineering theories across eras.
Laird’s publications explore figures like Heron of Alexandria, Guidobaldo del Monte, and Giuseppe Moletti, tracing the evolution of mechanical principles. His 2008 edited volume on pre-scientific revolution mechanics and 2000 monograph on Moletti’s unfinished dialogue highlight his editorial and interpretive contributions to the field.
Grants include SSHRCC funding (2000–2003) and institutional awards such as Carleton University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Research Award (2005). His research trends show a focus on textual analysis of technical manuscripts and their role in shaping early modern scientific thought.
