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Black and white photo of W Patrick McCray

W. Patrick McCray

Appointment

Advisor

Future Flourishing

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About

I research and write about the histories of modern science and technology.

Awards

  • Kluge Chair in Technology and Society, Library of Congress, 2025-2026.
  • Arthur Molella Distinguished Fellow, Lemelson Center, Smithsonian Institution, 2018-2019.
  • Invited Faculty Expert, World Economic Forum (Davos, Switzerland), 2016.
  • Watson Davis and Helen Miles Davis Prize, History of Science Society, 2014.
  • Fellow, American Physical Society, elected 2013.

Relevant Publications

  • Making Art Work: How Cold War Engineers and Artists Forged a New Creative Culture (The MIT Press, 2020)
  • The Visioneers: How a Group of Elite Scientists Pursued Space Colonies, Nanotechnologies, and a Limitless Future (Princeton University Press, 2013).

Institution

University of California Santa Barbara

Department

Department of History

Education

  • Ph.D. (Materials Science & Engineering + Anthropology), University of Arizona

Country

United States

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The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together. We are supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Québec, as well as Canadian and international foundations, individuals, corporations and partner organizations.

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