Ana Luiza Nicolae
Research Interests: History of early modern mining and meteorology; fossil extraction technologies from the 17th to the 21st centuries; history of Earth and Environmental Sciences; climate mitigation technologies.
Ana Luiza is a PhD candidate in history of science, working on a longue durée study of the theory and practical manipulations of subterranean waters. Her project connects case studies in the mining, oil, and gas industries from the 16th to the 20th centuries with an attention to the intellectual, artisanal, and labor backgrounds of underground technological experimentation. This work contributes to the history of earth sciences, early modern mining and hydrology history, and the history of technology.
Her interests in ancient science include ancient mathematics and meteorology in Mesopotamia and Greece, with a focus on winds and geometry, and an enduring curiosity for theories on the origins of earthquakes. She is pursuing a concurrent Masters in Geology throughout her doctoral studies to deepen her understanding of the scientific underpinnings of the study of earthquake generation and underground water flows.
As a Pforzheimer Research Fellow in the summer of 2024, Ana Luiza reconstructed the archive of Harvard’s Institute of Geographical Exploration (1930-1951) and explored the links between geological and geographical knowledge making and aerial photography before the satellite era. This ongoing research adds to our understanding of the changing landscape of geographical education in America in the post-war era.
Ana Luiza's interests lie in tracing the evolution of geological concepts pertaining to the structure of the earth and the mechanisms which lead to its transformation, such as earthquakes, subsidence, and extraction. She studies concepts such as porosity and seismicity, which are key to understanding how humans have theorized the interaction between fluids and the underground over time. Throughout her studies, she has aimed to keep a component of science communication and community engagement, and will keep making this an integral part of her research.
Presentations:
“Who is responsible for predicting earthquake destruction? Epistemological and legal burdens of proof for seismic prediction” HSS 2025, Panelist for: What’s proof got to do with it? Benefits of the doubt in environmental science and policy.
“A Geographical Cat in the Box, a remembered yet unknown Institute of Geographical Exploration at Harvard (1930-1951)”. Final report as Pforzheimer Research Fellow – Harvard University Librairies. Link: https://mapping.share.library.harvard.edu/posts/nicolae/
Previous Degrees:
B.A., Geography and Identity (Special Concentration), Harvard College
M.Phil., History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge