Sara J. Schechner (born 1957) is an American historian of science, the David P. Wheatland Curator of the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments and a lecturer on the History of Science at Harvard University.

Life

Schechner earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and Science with Physics from Harvard-Radcliffe of Harvard University, graduating summa cum laude in 1979. She then studied History and Philosophy of Science at the Emmanuel College of the Cambridge University and finished it with a Master of Philosophy in 1981. She completed her artium magister (Master of Arts) on the History of Science at the Harvard University in 1982. In 1988, she finalized her PhD on the History of Science at the Harvard University. Afterwards, Schechner was chief curator at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. She also curated exhibits for the Smithsonian Institution, the

American Astronomical Society The American Astronomical Society (AAS, sometimes spoken as "double-A-S") is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC. The primary objective of the AAS is to promote the adv ...

, and the

American Physical Society The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of k ...

. In 2000, she returned to Harvard University as the David P. Wheatland Curator of the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments. She is also a lecturer on the History of Science at Harvard University.

Selected publications

* * *

Awards

* 2020: Elected a Legacy Fellow of the

in 2020. * 2019: Paul Bunge Prize of the

Society of German Chemists The German Chemical Society (German: ', GDCh) is a learned society and professional association founded in 1949 to represent the interests of German chemists in local, national and international contexts. GDCh "brings together people working in che ...

* 2018:

LeRoy E. Doggett Prize The LeRoy E. Doggett Prize is Awarded biennially by the Historical Astronomy Division of the American Astronomical Society for individuals who have significantly influenced the field of the history of astronomy by a career-long effort. The prize is ...

* 2018: Second Place, Telescopes-Mechanical/Other,

Stellafane Convention The Stellafane Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Springfield, Vermont, founded in 1920 by Russell W. Porter. The Pink Clubhouse was built in 1923 at the site by the Springfield Telescope Makers Club. The name ''Stellafane'', suggested b ...

, for a quilt, “This is Stellafane!” 2018. * 2014: Great Exhibitions Prize for Body of Knowledge:A History of Anatomy (in 3 Parts), British Society for the History of Science * 2014: Dean's Impact Award, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University * 2010: The Paul and Irene Hollister Lecturer on Glass, 2010. * 2009: First Place, Telescopes-Mechanical/Special,

, for a historical quilt,“The Great 26-Inch Telescope at Foggy Bottom,” * 2008: Joseph H. Hazen Education Prize. * 2007: First Place,

International Design Awards The International Design Awards are a group of awards that recognize, celebrate and promote design visionaries and emerging talent in architecture, interior, product, graphic and fashion design. History A handful of designers, thinkers and entrepr ...

2007, for Time, Life, & Matter * 2004: Helen Sawyer Hogg Public Lecturer, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada * 1991–1992: Herbert C. Pollock Award * From 1982: New York Academy of Sciences * From 1979: Sigma Xi * 1979: Sigma Xi Prize, Harvard * 1979: Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schechner, Sara 1957 births Living people Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge American historians Radcliffe College alumni Fellows of the American Astronomical Society American women historians 21st-century American women