The History of Science Society (HSS) is proud to announce that Professor Theodore (Ted) M. Porter of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been awarded the prestigious Sarton Medal for the year 2023. As the most esteemed honor in the field, the Sarton Medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the history of science.
Theodore M. Porter is a distinguished scholar whose groundbreaking work has significantly advanced our understanding of the history of science. He has dedicated his career to studying the intersection of science, technology, and society, exploring how scientific knowledge is produced, disseminated, and shaped by its social and cultural contexts, most notably through the history of statistics and statistical practice.
Ted Porter is regarded as one of the most distinguished historians of science, responsible for not only transforming the history of statistics and statistical practice but creating the history of quantification. Porter has connected histories of statistical practice to histories of scientific epistemology—investigating the ways in which quantification grew over the 19th and early 20th centuries, incorporating a political and cultural worldview.
"It's an honor to bestow the Sarton Medal to Ted Porter," Fa-ti Fan, HSS President said. "His impact on the field is immense, several of his books are masterpieces. “Trust in Numbers”, for example, is a landmark work in the history of quantification and social science. He certainly belongs in the pantheon of Sarton Medalists."
Dr. Porter graduated from Stanford University with an A.B. in history in 1976 and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1981. In 2008, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Throughout his illustrious career, Porter has authored numerous influential books and articles that have earned him international acclaim. His works, including "The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900” and "Trust in Numbers: The Pursuit of Objectivity in Science and Public Life” have fundamentally reshaped the field of history of science. Porter's meticulous research and nuanced analysis have shed light on the complex relationship between scientific knowledge and broader social, political, and intellectual developments.
In Porter’s most recent book, ”Genetics in the Madhouse: The Unknown History of Human Heredity”, Porter delves into the emergence of the science of human heredity from data collected in mental hospitals. This groundbreaking book has received esteemed accolades, including the Pfizer Award from the History of Science Society and the Cheiron Book Prize from The International Society for the History of Behavioral & Social Sciences.
In addition to his exceptional research contributions, Dr. Porter has been a dedicated mentor and educator. He has inspired countless students throughout his career and has served as an influential figure in shaping the next generation of historians of science. Porter’s remarkable career has been honored from esteemed institutions around the world as a recipient of multiple Scholar's Awards from the National Science Foundation, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Ludwig Fleck Prize, and the esteemed status of being an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In addition, Porter has enjoyed the privilege of residential fellowships at renowned institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, the University of California Society of Fellows, and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, among others. He has been invited as a distinguished or keynote lecturer at numerous meetings and events, including the prestigious Distinguished Lecture of the HSS Annual Meeting in 2007.
Theodore M. Porter's outstanding achievements make him an ideal recipient for the 2023 Sarton Medal. The History of Science Society recognizes his exceptional contributions to the field and his unwavering commitment to advancing our understanding of the history of science.
The Sarton Medal will be officially presented to Dr. Porter at the 2023 History of Science Society's Annual Meeting, November 9-12 in Portland, OR. The Prize Ceremony and Q&A of the Sarton Medalist will be on November 11. This recognition highlights the immense impact of his work and serves as an inspiration to scholars and enthusiasts in the field of history of science worldwide.
For more information about the Sarton Medal and the History of Science Society, please visit https://hssonline.org.
About the History of Science Society:
The History of Science Society is the world’s largest society dedicated to understanding science, technology, medicine, and their interactions with society in historical context. Over 3,000 individual and institutional members across the world support the Society’s mission to foster interest in the history of science and its social and cultural relations.