Professor Dr. Thomas Hankins

Biography

Thomas Hankins earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1964. Originally trained as a physicist, he taught high school physics for four years and spent summers working at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. His passion for the history of science led him to return to graduate school and become a historian. He joined the University of Washington in 1964, where he taught until his retirement in 2000, later continuing part-time until 2005. His early research focused on the history of physical sciences, particularly the history of mechanics during the French Enlightenment. Hankins authored a biography of the French mathematician and philosopher Jean d'Alembert and contributed to the Cambridge History of Science Series. His interests also included the history of scientific instruments; he edited a volume on this topic and co-authored a book with graduate student Robert Silverman. His research has advanced to include the history of graphs in science. He has served as Chairman of the U.S. National Committee on History and Philosophy of Science and has been involved with various editorial boards. Hankins has received multiple awards, including the Pacific Coast Branch Award from the American Historical Association and the George Sarton Medal. Throughout his career, he has received grants from prestigious organizations like the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

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