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AROUND THE QUADS

5 Minutes With … Matthew Jones

Assistant professor of history Matthew Jones has taught at Columbia since 2000, specializing in the cultural history of science and philosophy in early modern Europe. A native of Reno, Nev., Jones earned his B.A. and Ph.D. at Harvard and his M.A. at Cambridge. CCT caught up with him after his last spring semester class to learn more.

Q: What did you teach this semester?

A: “Intro to Historical Methods,” a required course for first-year grad students, and “Scientific Revolution in Western Europe,” a lecture course for undergrads. That’s a tricky course because you’re navigating between history and science. We’ll see — the students just filled out their evaluation forms, so in a couple of weeks, I’ll know.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: I like this lecture course because it’s my favorite subject, but I prefer the seminar format. I like to teach CC. When the students are really into it and the group comes together, it is unlike any other class.

Q: Where is your favorite place to have lunch near Columbia?

A: An Ethiopian restaurant on 106th called Awash. Is that still the Columbia area? Closer by, I like Max SoHa.

Q: Coffee or tea?

A: Coffee, lots of it. There actually is good espresso in SIPA.

Q: What’s new in the history department?

A: The most important thing right now is rethinking how to teach history outside of nation-states. We’ve hired faculty who break out and write about European trends or Europe and America. For me, as a historian of science, it is exciting that Columbia and Barnard have been hiring a critical mass of people interested in history of science. I like being a historian of science in a history department; my graduate work was in a separate department with very little interaction with the history department.

Q: What led you to become a historian of science?

A: The story for historians of science is usually this: deeply interested in science but indecisive. I entered Harvard in advanced mathematics. I really enjoyed mathematics, I was pretty decent at it, but didn’t want to do research on it. I was taking a history of science course and realized I could use my mathematical competency to study its historical development: how math became separate from physics in the 18th century — its academic transformation. I decided I could make a more valuable contribution studying the history of science. My B.A. is in history and science — it’s a funny major at Harvard.

Q: Tell us about the book you are working on, The Good Life in the Scientific Revolution.

A: It was due yesterday, so I need to finish it by mid-June. As soon as it is in, I have to start a new one, grown out of CC, about the intertwining of science and political philosophy in the 17th century. I’m also going to write a book on 17th century calculating machines — early computers — and their relation to government.

Q: Where do you live?

A: Near Lincoln Center — perfect for going to the opera.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: No, I’m allergic to everything.

Q: What is the last movie you saw?

A: It was a Chinese film, Infernal Affairs. It’s being remade into an American movie, which I’m sure will be a disaster.

Q: If you were not teaching at Columbia, what would you be doing?

A: I would probably be teaching somewhere else. Or I’d do what my friends did — go out to make money and find out it wasn’t exciting.

Interview and photo: Laura Butchy ’04 SOA

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