Rate My Professor Ofer Gal

Professor Ofer Gal is a distinguished historian and philosopher of science at the University of Sydney, where he holds the position of Professor in the School of History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Science. He earned his PhD in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996 and his MA from Tel Aviv University. Born in 1962, Gal has built a notable academic career marked by leadership in foundational research centers. He served as Director of the Unit for History and Philosophy of Science from 2005 to 2011, founded and co-directs the Sydney Society of Fellows since 2015, and currently directs the Sydney Centre for the Foundations of Science. These roles underscore his commitment to fostering interdisciplinary inquiry into the roots of scientific thought.

Gal's research centers on the history and philosophy of early modern science, exploring how science emerged as a distinct practice and culture during the 17th century. He investigates epistemological, ontological, and historiographical dimensions, including the philosophical foundations of modern biology and the transformation of scientific representation. His seminal works include Baroque Science, co-authored with Raz Chen-Morris (University of Chicago Press, 2014), which reinterprets the scientific revolution through baroque lenses, and The Origins of Modern Science: From Antiquity to the Scientific Revolution (Cambridge University Press, 2021), tracing continuities from ancient to modern paradigms. With over 46 publications and 246 citations on ResearchGate, Gal's scholarship has significantly influenced historiographical debates. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales (FRSN) and has held visiting positions, such as the Silverman Professorship at Tel Aviv University in 2015. His contributions extend to editorial roles and public engagement through lectures on scientific origins.