Simon Schaffer

Simon Schaffer (born 1 January 1955) was born in Southampton and was educated at Varndean Grammar School for Boys (now Varndean College). He is a professor of the history and philosophy of science at Cambridge University and edits The British Journal for the History of Science. Schaffer studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and attended Harvard as a Kennedy Scholar. He previously taught at Imperial College London and UCLA. In addition to his work... more

Simon Schaffer (born 1 January 1955) was born in Southampton and was educated at Varndean Grammar School for Boys (now Varndean College). He is a professor of the history and philosophy of science at Cambridge University and edits The British Journal for the History of Science. Schaffer studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and attended Harvard as a Kennedy Scholar. He previously taught at Imperial College London and UCLA. In addition to his work at Cambridge, he has been a presenter on the BBC, in particular the series "Light Fantastic" broadcast on BBC Four in 2006. He is also a noted supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. He has been a Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge since 1985. He is the co-author, along with Steven Shapin, of the 1985 book Leviathan and the Air-Pump: Hobbes, Boyle, and the Experimental Life. He presented the BBC history of science "Light Fantastic". In 2005 he shared the prestigious Erasmus Prize with Steven Shapin for Leviathan and the Air-Pump. This Dutch prize... less