Sofie Lachapelle is a prominent academic specializing in the history of science and its intersections with culture and entertainment. She serves as the Dean of Arts at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she is involved in initiatives that enhance the academic environment for both faculty and students. Previously, she contributed significantly to the University of Guelph's History Department, fostering collaborative programs with graduate students across universities. Lachapelle earned her Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana in 2002. Her research primarily investigates the relationship between science and entertainment in modern France, focusing on the fields of opera, magic, and public perception of science. Her book, 'Conjuring Science: History Scientific Entertainment Stage Magic Modern France,' published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2015, explores the complex interplay of science and stage magic in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to her monographs, she has contributed various articles to scholarly journals, addressing topics such as vocal health in operatic training and the sociocultural narratives surrounding touring and nation-building in early 20th-century France. Her interdisciplinary approach has garnered her recognition within both historical and scientific communities, and she continues to be an influential voice in the field of history of science.
Wilfrid Laurier University • Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Overseeing academic programs and faculty in the Faculty of Arts, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration.
University of Guelph • Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Teaching and researching in the History Department, focusing on the history of science.
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science •
Conducted research in the history of science.
Purdue University Calumet •
Taught courses in the history discipline.