Bio

Jessica Riskin received her B.A. from Harvard University and her Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught at MIT before coming to Stanford, and has also taught at Iowa State University and at Sciences Po, Paris. Her research interests include early modern science, politics and culture and the history of scientific explanation.

Riskin is the author of Science in the Age of Sensibility: The Sentimental Empiricists of the French Enlightenment (2002), which won the American Historical Association's J. Russell Major Prize for best book in English on any aspect of French history, and the editor of Genesis Redux: Essays in the History and Philosophy of Artificial Life (2007) and, with Mario Biagioli, of Nature Engaged: Science in Practice from the Renaissance to the Present (2012). She is also the author of The Restless Clock: A History of the Centuries-Long Debate over What Makes Living Things Tick (2016), which won the 2021 Patrick Suppes Prize in the History of Science from the American Philosophical Society.

Academic Appointments

  • Professor, History

Administrative Appointments

  • Frances and Charles Field Professor, History Department, Stanford University (2021 - Present)
  • Jean-Paul Gimon Director, France-Stanford Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (2018 - Present)
  • Vice Chair, History Department, Stanford University (2017 - 2021)
  • Chair, Academic Council Committee on Libraries (2017 - 2020)
  • Professor, History Department, Stanford University (2015 - 2021)
  • Professeur Invite, Chaire en Humanitis scientifiques, Sciences Po, Paris, France (2011 - 2012)
  • Visiting Fellow, Institut Jean Nicod, CNRS-ENS-EHESS, Paris, France (2008 - 2009)
  • Associate Professor, History Department, Stanford University (2007 - Present)
  • Affiliated Faculty, Modern Thought and Literature, Stanford University (2013 - Present)
  • Assistant Professor, History Department, Stanford University (2001 - 2007)
  • Leo Marx Career Development Assistant Professor of the History and Culture of Science and Technology, Program in Science, Technology and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1998 - 2001)
  • Assistant Professor, History Department, Iowa State University (1996 - 1998)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Dibner Institute for the History of Science, Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology (1997 - 1998)
  • Visiting Scholar, History of Science Department, Harvard University (1997 - 1998)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, History Department, Northwestern University (1995 - 1996)

Honors & Awards

  • Frances and Charles Field Professorship, History Department, Stanford University (2021-)
  • Enhanced Sabbatical Fellowship in the Humanities and Arts, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University (2021-2022)
  • Patrick Suppes Prize in the History of Science, American Philosophical Society (2021)
  • Inaugural Chair in Humanites scientifiques, Sciences Po, Paris (2011-2012)
  • Membre associe, REHSEIS, CNRS and Universite de Paris-7, Paris (2010-2011)
  • Visiting Research Fellowship, History Program, Research School of Social Sciences, Australia National University, Canberra (2007)
  • William H. and Frances Green Faculty Fellowship, Stanford University (2004-2007)
  • ]. Russell Major Award, American Historical Association (2004)
  • Scholar's Award, Program in Science and Technology Studies, National Science Foundation (2003)
  • Charles A. Ryskamp Research Fellowship, American Council of Learned Societies (2003)
  • Old Dominion Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2000-2001)
  • Leo Marx Assistant Professorship, Program in Science, Technology and Society, MIT (1998-2002)
  • Mabelle McLeod Lewis Fellowship, University of California, Berkeley (1994-1995)
  • Doreen P. Townsend Fellowship, U.C. Berkeley (1994-1995)
  • Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (1993-1994)
  • National Science Foundation Fellowship, National Science Foundation (1990-1993)
  • Mellon Foundation Dissertation Prospectus Fellowship, Department of History, U.C. Berkeley (1991)
  • Regents Scholarship, U.C. Berkeley (1989-1990)
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard University (1988)
  • Elizabeth Cary Agassiz Award, Harvard University (1984-1987)
  • Harvard College Scholarship, Harvard University (1985-1986)
  • John Harvard Scholarship, Harvard University (1984-1987)
  • Westinghouse Science Talent Search, top ten, Westinghouse Science Talent Search (1984)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Editorial Board member, Isis (2013 - Present)
  • Associate Editor, Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences (2007 - Present)
  • Conference Organizer, Theories of Evolution and their Applications: History of Science and History of Populations, 18th -21st Centuries, Sciences Po, Paris (2013 - 2013)
  • Council member, History of Science Society (2009 - 2012)
  • Program Co-Chair, History of Science Society Annual Meeting (2009 - 2009)
  • Invited participant, Kandersteg Seminar on intellectual history and political thought, Remarque Institute, NYU (2007 - 2007)
  • Conference organizer, Science and Sensibility in the American Enlightenment, Stanford (2007 - 2007)
  • Member, Leo Gershoy Award Committee, American Histotical Association (2004 - 2007)
  • Member, Program Committee, Society for French Historical Studies annual meeting (2005 - 2005)
  • Conference organizer, Workshop on the History and Philosophy of Artificial Life, Stanford University (2003 - 2003)
  • President, West Coast History of Science Society (2001 - 2002)
  • Member, History of Science Society
  • Member, American Historical Association
  • Member, Society for French Historical Studies
  • Member, American Society for Eighteenth Century Studies
  • Member, France-Stanford Center Executive Committee (2012 - Present)
  • Member, Graduate Admissions Committee in History, Stanford University (2012 - Present)
  • Director, Honors Program in History, Stanford University (2012 - Present)
  • Participant, Faculty College, the new SIMILE program, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
  • Member Curriculum Committee, History Department, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
  • Field Coordinator, Early Modern Europe, History Department, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
  • Field Coordinator, History of Science, History Department, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
  • Co-Chair, Program in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Stanford University (2007 - 2012)
  • Director of Undergraduate Studies, History Department, Stanford University (2007 - 2010)
  • Member, Introduction to the Humanities Governance Board, Stanford University (2007 - 2010)
  • Member, Writing and Rhetoric Requirement Governance Board, Stanford University (2006 - 2010)
  • Reader, Stanford Humanities Center fellowship applications (2003 - 2010)
  • Member Graduate Studies Committee, History Department, Stanford University (2006 - 2007)
  • Freshman Academic Advisor, Stanford University (2004 - 2005)
  • Major Grant Proposal Reviewer, Undergraduate Research Programs, Stanford University (2004 - 2005)
  • Member, Policy Committee, History Department, Stanford University (2004 - 2005)
  • Member, Policy Committee, History Department,Stanford University (2007 - 2008)
  • Member, Appointments Committee, History Department, Stanford University (2004 - 2005)
  • Faculty Co-Coordinator, Seminar on Enlightenment and Revolutions, Stanford University (2002 - 2005)
  • Member, Steering Committee for Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, Stanford University (2002 - 2003)
  • Member, Steering Committee for Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, Stanford University (2006 - 2007)
  • Member, Honors Thesis Prize Committee, History Department, Stanford University (2002 - 2002)
  • Member, Humanities Fellows Selection Committee, Stanford University (2002 - 2002)
  • Advisor, Program in Science, Technology and Society, Stanford University (2001 - Present)
  • Secretary, History Department, Stanford University (2001 - 2002)

Program Affiliations

  • Modern Thought and Literature
  • Program in History & Philosophy of Science
  • Science, Technology and Society
  • Symbolic Systems Program

Professional Education

  • A.B., Harvard University, History and Science (1988)
  • PhD, University of California at Berkeley, History (1995)

Contact

  • Academic
    jriskin@stanford.edu
    University - Faculty Department: History Department Position: Professor
    • BLDG. 200
    • Stanford,  California  94305-2024 
    (650) 725-0597 (fax)

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 2024

Links

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • Who Killed Jane Stanford?: A Gilded Age Tale of Murder, Deceit, Spirits, and the Birth of a University (Book Review) NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2023; 70 (11)

    View details for Web of Science ID 001193251800004

  • American Disruptor: The Scandalous Life of Leland Stanford (Book Review) NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2023; 70 (11)

    View details for Web of Science ID 001193251800005

  • Letter from Paris RARITAN-A QUARTERLY REVIEW Riskin, J. 2022; 42 (1): 100-129

    View details for Web of Science ID 000895034100015

  • The Scientific Method: An Evolution of Thinking from Darwin to Dewey (Book Review) NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2020; 67 (11): 48–50

    View details for Web of Science ID 000540321500028

  • The Restless Clock: A History of the Centuries-Long Argument Over What Makes Living Things Tick Riskin, J. University of Chicago Press. 2016
  • Machines in the Garden Republics of Letters: A Journal for the Stuc!J if Knowledge, Politics, and the Arts Riskin, J. G. 2010; 1 (2)
  • The Lawyer and the Lightening Rod Law and Science Volume I: Epistemological, Evidentiary, and Relational Engagements Riskin, J. edited by Silbey, S. London: Ashgate. 2008
  • The defecating duck, or, the ambiguous origins of artificial life CRITICAL INQUIRY Riskin, J. 2003; 29 (4): 599-633

    View details for Web of Science ID 000235513500003

  • Science in the Age of Sensibility: The Sentimental Empiricists of the French Enlightenment Riskin, J. G. University of Chicago Press. 2002
  • Questions for Jablonka and Ginsburg Drawn from Lamarck's Life-Made World BIOSEMIOTICS Riskin, J. 2023

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s12304-023-09523-0

    View details for Web of Science ID 000936474900001

  • Biology's mistress, a brief history INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE REVIEWS Riskin, J. 2020; 45 (3): 268–98

    View details for DOI 10.1080/03080188.2020.1794388

    View details for Web of Science ID 000574180100004

  • Haeckel's Embryos: Images, Evolution, and Fraud (Book Review) COMMON KNOWLEDGE Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2020; 26 (1): 187

    View details for DOI 10.1215/0961754X-7899880

    View details for Web of Science ID 000532841800055

  • Machines in the Garden RENAISSANCE FUTURITIES: SCIENCE, ART, INVENTION Riskin, J., Black, C. V., Alvarez, M. T. 2020: 19–40

    View details for Web of Science ID 000546310400003

  • THE EARLY MODERN MACHINE: DIVINE, SENTIMENTAL, ROMANTIC MODERN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY Riskin, J. 2015; 12 (2): 443-451

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S1479244314000432

    View details for Web of Science ID 000357313400007

  • Nature Engaged: Science in Practice from the Renaissance to the Present Palgrave Studies in Cultural and Intellectual History edited by Riskin, J. G., Biagoli, M., LaVopa, A., Marchand, S., Majeed, J. Palgrave MacMillan. 2012
  • Introduction: A Mingled Yarn NATURE ENGAGED: SCIENCE IN PRACTICE FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO THE PRESENT Riskin, J., Biagioli, M., Riskin, J. 2012: 1-15

    View details for Web of Science ID 000387678900001

  • Machines in the Garden NATURE ENGAGED: SCIENCE IN PRACTICE FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO THE PRESENT Riskin, J., Biagioli, M., Riskin, J. 2012: 229-248

    View details for Web of Science ID 000387678900012

  • The New Pragmatism Nature Engaged: Science in Practice from the Renaissance to the Present Riskin, J. edited by Biagioli, M., Riskin, J. 2012
  • Machines in the Garden Nature Engaged: Science in Practice from the Renaissance to the Present Riskin, J. edited by Biagoli, M., Riskin, J. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. 2012
  • The Restless Clock Early Modern Things: Objects and their Histories, 1500-1800 Riskin, J. edited by Findlen, P. New York: Routledge. 2012
  • The Divine Optician AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW Riskin, J. 2011; 116 (2): 352-370

    View details for Web of Science ID 000289607300005

    View details for PubMedID 21568129

  • The Emergence of a Scientific Culture: Science and the Shaping of Modernity 1210-1685. (Book Review) HISTORICAL STUDIES IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2010; 40 (3): 399-408

    View details for Web of Science ID 000280583900005

  • The Intelligibility of Nature: How Science Makes Sense of the World. (Book Review) HISTORICAL STUDIES IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2010; 40 (3): 399-408

    View details for Web of Science ID 000280583900004

  • Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance. (Book Review) HISTORICAL STUDIES IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2010; 40 (3): 399-408

    View details for Web of Science ID 000280583900007

  • The Fall of Man and the Foundations of Science. (Book Review) HISTORICAL STUDIES IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2010; 40 (3): 399-408

    View details for Web of Science ID 000280583900006

  • Newton and Monotheism (Review of "The Emergence of a Scientific Culture" by S. Gaukroger, "The Fall of Man and the Foundations of Science" by P. Harrison, "The Intelligibility of Nature" by P. Dear, and "Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance" by G. Saliba) Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences Riskin, J. 2010; 40 (3): 399-408
  • Mr. Machine and the Imperial Me The Super-Enlightenment: Daring to Know Too Much, special issue of Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century Riskin, J. 2010; 1: 75-94
  • The Adventures of Mr. Machine, With Morals History of the Human Body in the Age of Enlightenment, 1650-1800 Riskin, J. edited by Reeves, C. Oxford: Berg. 2010: 73–92
  • Art of Evolution NATURAL HISTORY Riskin, J. 2009; 118 (2): 6

    View details for Web of Science ID 000263446700003

  • Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) The SuperEnlightenment Riskin, J. edited by Edelstein, D. 2009
  • The Mesmerism Investigation and the Crisis of Sensibilist Science The Sixth Sense Reade Riskin, J. edited by Howes, D. New York: Berg. 2009
  • Amusing Physics Science and Spectacle in the European Enlightenment Riskin, J. edited by Bensaude-Vincent, B., Blondel, C. London: Ashgate. 2008
  • The first scientific American: Benjamin Franklin and the pursuit of genius. (Book Review) AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2007; 112 (1): 187-188

    View details for DOI 10.1086/ahr.112.1.187

    View details for Web of Science ID 000244272600036

  • Cottage in a Boudoir (Review of "Sensation and Sensibility: Viewing Gainsborough's Cottage Door" by A. Bermingham, Ed.) Senses and Society Riskin, J. 2007; 2 (3): 391-398
  • The Sistine Gap Genesis Redux Riskin, J. edited by Riskin, J. 2007
  • Eighteenth Century Wetware The Artificial and the Natural.· An Evolving Polariry Riskin, J. edited by Bensaude-Vincent, B., Newman, W. R. Cambridge: MIT Press. 2007
  • As Famous as the Moon (Review of "The First Scientific American: Benjamin Chaplin and the Pursuit of Genius" by J. Chaplin American Historical Review Riskin, J. 2007: 187-188
  • Genesis Redux: Essays in the History and Philosophy of Artificial Life edited by Riskin, J. G. University of Chicago Press. 2007
  • Science and polity in France: The revolutionary and Napoleonic years. (Book Review) JOURNAL OF MODERN HISTORY Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2006; 78 (3): 722-724

    View details for Web of Science ID 000240660600029

  • Growing explanations: Historical perspectives on recent science. (Book Review) JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY HISTORY Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2006; 37 (1): 91-92

    View details for Web of Science ID 000238257800006

  • Amusing physics HARVARD LIBRARY BULLETIN Riskin, J. 2006; 17 (1-2): 14-28

    View details for Web of Science ID 000246853400003

  • Kunstliches Leben produzieren. Denkparallelen im Automatenbau des 18. Jahrhunderts und heute Artifizielle Korper lebendige Technik: Technische Modellierungen des Korpers in historischer Perspektive Riskin, J. edited by Orland, B. Zurich: Chronos Verlag. 2005: 65–85
  • Science in the Age of Sensibility Making Things Public: Atmospheres of Democracy Riskin, J. edited by Latour, B., Weibel, P. Cambridge: MIT Press. 2005: 722–726
  • Pandora's breeches: Women, science and power in the enlightenment (Book Review) NATURE Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2004; 429 (6991): 503-504

    Abstract

    Penetration by an object through a dense granular medium (for example, by a finger pushing slowly into the sand on a beach) presents an interesting physics problem that is closely related to issues of practical importance in soil science. Here we measure the penetration-resistance force for an object approaching the solid bottom boundary of a granular sample--analogous to the finger approaching a flat rock buried in the beach. We find that the penetration resistance near the boundary increases exponentially, which demonstrates the existence of an intrinsic length scale to the 'jamming' caused by a locally applied stress.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/429503a

    View details for Web of Science ID 000221767700017

  • The wild girl, natural man, and the monster: Dangerous experiments in the age of enlightenment (Book Review) JOURNAL OF MODERN HISTORY Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2004; 76 (2): 451-453

    View details for Web of Science ID 000221881100024

  • The Defecating Duck; or, The Ambiguous Origins of Artificial Life Things Riskin, J. edited by Brown, B. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2004: 99–133.
  • Eighteenth-century wetware (Automatons, artificial mechanics) REPRESENTATIONS Riskin, J. 2003: 96-125

    View details for Web of Science ID 000186020400004

  • The 'Spirit of System' and the Fortunes of Physiocracy Oeconomies in the Age of Newton Riskin, J. edited by Marchi, N. D., Schabas, M. Durham and London: Duke University Press. 2003: 42–73
  • La Machine, l'art et l'etron La Recherche Riskin, J. 2003; 12: 51-53
  • Newtonianism The Oxford Companion to the History of Modern Science. Riskin, J. edited by Heilbron, J. L. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2003: 574–576
  • A version of Ch. 4 is reprinted as "The 'Spirit of System' and the Fortunes of Physiocracy," Oeconomies in the Age of Newton edited by Marchi, N. D., Schabas., M. Durham and London: Duke University Press. 2003: 42–73
  • Le canard, l'homme et le robot La Recherche Riskin, J. 2002; 350: 36-40
  • Dimostrazioni e intrattenirnento Storia della scienza Riskin, J. edited by Petruccioli, S. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana. 2002
  • Robespierre, l'avocat et le paratonnerre La Recherche Riskin, J. 2002; 8: 86-91
  • The sciences in enlightened Europe. (Book Review) ISIS Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 2001; 92 (4): 786-788

    View details for Web of Science ID 000174455200047

  • Dimostrazioni e intrattenirnento Storia della scienza edited by Petrucciole, S. Istituto della Enciclopedia. 2001; 10
  • I parafulmini Storia della scienza Riskin, J. edited by Petruccioli, S. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana. 2001: 275–278
  • Gli amusements aeriformi, Gli amusements imponderabili, Gli amusements automatici Storia della scienza Riskin, J. edited by Petruccioli, S. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana. 2001: 261–268
  • Condillac, Etienne Bonnot de Enryclopedia of Psychology Riskin, J. edited by Kazdin, A. E. Oxford University Press. 2000: 255–256
  • La Mettrie, Julien Offray de la Enryclopedia of Psychology Riskin, J. edited by Kazdin, A. E. Oxford University Press. 2000; 471-472
  • Minerva's Message: Stabilizing the French Revolution. (Book Review) ISIS Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 1999; 90 (3): 598-599

    View details for Web of Science ID 000083217400042

  • The lawyer and the lightning rod SCIENCE IN CONTEXT Riskin, J. 1999; 12 (1): 61-99

    View details for Web of Science ID 000084290700004

  • Duckshit and Damask Eve Andree Laramie: A Permutational Urifolding Riskin, J. edited by Riddell, J. List Visual Arts Center, MIT. 1999: 45–51
  • Chimie et Revolution: Le Pouvoir des Mots La Recherche Riskin, J. 1999; 320: 75-80
  • Lavoisier: Chemist, biologist, economist. (Book Review) JOURNAL OF MODERN HISTORY Book Review Authored by: Riskin, J. 1998; 70 (3): 703-705

    View details for Web of Science ID 000076616500057

  • Rival idioms for a revolutionized science and a republican citizenry ISIS Riskin, J. 1998; 89 (2): 203-232

    View details for Web of Science ID 000074475300001

  • Poor Richard's Leyden Jar: Electricity and economy in Franklinist France HISTORICAL STUDIES IN THE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Riskin, J. 1998; 28: 301-336

    View details for Web of Science ID 000077385700003

  • Review of "Trust in Numbers: The Pursuit of Objectivity in Science and Public Life" by T. M. Porter Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences Riskin, J. 1996; 27 (1): 190-191
  • Review of "Benjamin Franklin's Science" by I. B. Cohen Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences Riskin, J. 1993; 24 (1): 190-191