Profile

Juan Andres Leon Gomez trained as a physicist and a historian before doing a PhD in the History of Science. Parallel to his academic trajectory, he has pursued a museum career that focuses on modern scientific instrumentation and computing. His work  looks at the role of science as world transforming practice, political ideology and personal habitus. In his dissertation, "Citizens of the Chemical Complex" he explored the world of science philanthropy of Imperial and Weimar Germany and its impact in the applied sciences, physics, mathematics and astronomy.



Leon Gomez' work lies at the intersection of social and environmental history, and repeatedly focuses on the transition from personal and philanthropic support networks towards national science organizations such as the Max Planck Society, as well as multinational scientific initiatives such as Atoms for Peace, CERN, and a multitude of astronomical observatories.

Throughout his work, geography (water, elevation, topographical features, infrastructure and political boundaries) plays a leading analytical role.



At the GMPG, he is researching the West German participation in the construction of large astronomical observatories in foreign countries in the second half of the 20th century, a story in which geographical necessity tested the boundaries between scientific autonomy and the democratic responsibility of scientists.


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