Alberto A. Martínez
Professor — Ph.D., University of Minnesota, M.A. NYU

Contact
- E-mail: almartinez@austin.utexas.edu
- Phone: 512-475-9426
- Office: GAR 0.138
- Office Hours: Fall 2018: TTH 1:00-2:00 p.m. & by appointment
- Campus Mail Code: B7000
Interests
History of science and mathematics, Einstein, historical myths in science, notions of race, political news media.
Biography
Alberto Martinez is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Most recently, he is the author of Burned Alive: Giordano Bruno, Galileo & the Inquisition (Reaktion, 2018). He is also the author of four other books: The Cult of Pythagoras: Math and Myths (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2012), on the evolution of myths in the history of mathematics. Science Secrets: The Truth About Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2011). And previously, he published Kinematics: The Lost Origins of Einstein's Relativity (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009), and Negative Math: How Mathematical Rules Can Be Positively Bent (Princeton University Press, 2005).
He has also published articles in journals and periodicals including The American Journal of Physics, Annals of Science, Archive for History of Exact Sciences, Physics in Perspective, The American Mathematical Monthly, Physics Today, School Science Review, Metascience, Physics World, and Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics.
Also, Martinez also writes articles for newspapers and online magazines such as The Austin American-Statesman, The Hill, SALON, the USA Today newspapers, Scientific American, The Houston Chronicle, The Daily Texan, Latina, New Standard Press, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Sloan Science & Film, Texas Perspectives, and Not Even Past. Based on articles he wrote about the 2016 Presidential Election, Martinez is writing a book about the political news media, titled: The Media Versus the Devil Mr. Trump.
Research interests
History of physics (especially Einstein's special theory of relativity), history of mathematics, historical myths in science, Giordano Bruno and Galileo. Presently, Martínez also researches the history of notions of race, myths in political news media, and episodes in the history of money and corruption.
Courses taught
HIS366N Biology, Behavior and Injustice, HIS350L History of Money and Corruption, HIS350L Race, Science, Racism, HIS317N Discovery History, HIS350L Einstein in an Age of Conflicts, HIS380K Science and Conjectures, HIS322M History of Modern Science, HIS329U Perspectives on Science and Math, TC302/UGS302 Scientists and Religion in History.
Awards/Honors
Public Voices Fellow, The OpEd Project 2017-18
Fellow of the Institute for Historical Studies, 2016-17
Weisman Instructor in History of Science, Caltech, 2004–05
Fellow, Center for Einstein Studies, Boston University, 2003-04
Fellow, Dibner Institute for History of Science and Technology, M.I.T., 2001-03
Postdoctoral Fellow, History of Science, Harvard University, 2001-03
Smithsonian Fellow, National Museum of American History, 2001
Courses
HIS 318N • Discovery History
39175 • Spring 2021
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM WAG 214
II
HIS 350L • History Of Money/Corruption
39395 • Spring 2021
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM RLP 1.106
Wr
HIS 318N • Discovery History
38030 • Fall 2020
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM RLP 1.104
II
HIS 322R • Bio, Behavior, And Injustice
38645 • Spring 2020
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM WAG 214
(also listed as CTI 370)
HIS 350L • Hist Of Money/Corruption
38725 • Spring 2020
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM GAR 0.132
Wr
HIS 329U • Perspectives On Science & Math
38170 • Fall 2019
Meets MWF 11:00AM-12:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
SB
HIS 329U • Perspectives On Science & Math
38175 • Fall 2019
Meets MWF 3:00PM-4:00PM PAI 4.08
Wr
SB
HIS 322R • Bio, Behavior, And Injustice
38885 • Spring 2019
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM RLP 0.112
(also listed as CTI 370)
HIS 350L • Race, Science, And Racism
38930 • Spring 2019
Meets T 3:30PM-6:30PM GAR 0.132
IIWr
HIS 350L • Hist Of Money/Corruption
39180 • Fall 2018
Meets T 3:30PM-6:30PM WAG 308
IIWr
HIS 350L • Einstein In Age Of Conflict
39200 • Fall 2018
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM PAR 103
IIWr
(also listed as CTI 371)
HIS 350L • Hist Of Money/Corruption
39020 • Spring 2018
Meets T 3:30PM-6:30PM GAR 2.112
IIWr
HIS 366N • Bio, Behavior, & Injustice
39235 • Spring 2018
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM MEZ B0.306
(also listed as CTI 370)
HIS 329U • Perspectives On Science & Math
39475 • Fall 2017
Meets MWF 11:00AM-12:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
SB
HIS 329U • Perspectives On Science & Math
39480 • Fall 2017
Meets MWF 3:00PM-4:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
SB
HIS 350L • Race, Science, And Racism
39445 • Spring 2017
Meets M 3:00PM-6:00PM GEA 127
IIWr
HIS 317N • Discovery History
39149 • Fall 2016
Meets M 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 2.112
IIWr
HIS 317N • Discovery History
38525 • Spring 2016
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM GAR 0.120
IIWr
HIS 350L • Einstein In Age Of Conflict
38685 • Spring 2016
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM MEZ 1.122
IIWr
(also listed as CTI 371)
HIS 317N • Discovery History
38399 • Fall 2015
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM MEZ 2.122
HIS 366N • Bio, Behavior, & Injustice
38744 • Fall 2015
Meets W 6:00PM-9:00PM JES A307A
(also listed as CTI 370)
HIS 350L • Einstein In Age Of Conflict
38653 • Spring 2015
Meets M 4:00PM-7:00PM GAR 2.112
IIWr
(also listed as CTI 371)
HIS 366N • Bio, Behavior, & Injustice
38865 • Spring 2015
Meets MWF 1:00PM-2:00PM UTC 3.112
(also listed as CTI 370)
HIS 329U • Perspectives On Science & Math
39515-39520 • Fall 2014
Meets MWF 11:00AM-12:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
HIS 329U • Perspectives On Science & Math
39525-39530 • Fall 2014
Meets MWF 2:00PM-3:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
HIS 322M • History Of Modern Science
39785 • Spring 2014
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM WAG 101
HIS 380K • Science And Conjectures
40180 • Spring 2014
Meets TH 3:30PM-6:30PM GAR 2.124
HIS 329U • Perspectives On Science & Math
39725-39730 • Fall 2013
Meets MWF 11:00AM-12:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
HIS 329U • Perspectives On Science & Math
39735-39740 • Fall 2013
Meets MWF 2:00PM-3:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
HIS 350L • Einstein In Age Of Conflict
39550 • Spring 2013
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM GAR 0.120
Wr
(also listed as CTI 371)
HIS 366N • Biology, Behavior, & Injustice
39725 • Spring 2013
Meets MWF 11:00AM-12:00PM UTC 4.134
(also listed as CTI 370)
HIS 366N • Biology, Behavior, & Injustice
39602 • Spring 2012
Meets MWF 1:00PM-2:00PM GAR 0.102
(also listed as CTI 370)
UGS 302 • Scientists & Religion In Hist
63530 • Spring 2012
Meets MW 3:30PM-5:00PM GAR 3.116
Wr
HIS 322M • History Of Modern Science
39260 • Fall 2011
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM WEL 2.308
HIS 350L • Einstein In Age Of Conflicts
39335 • Fall 2011
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM GAR 2.112
Wr
C2
(also listed as CTI 370)
HIS 322M • History Of Modern Science
39535 • Spring 2011
Meets MWF 1:00PM-2:00PM WEL 2.308
HIS 350L • Einstein In Age Of Conflicts
39650 • Spring 2011
Meets MW 3:30PM-5:00PM CBA 4.348
Wr
C2
HIS 329U • Persp On Science & Math-Uteach
39160-39165 • Fall 2010
Meets MWF 11:00AM-12:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
C2
HIS 329U • Persp On Science & Math-Uteach
39170-39175 • Fall 2010
Meets MWF 2:00PM-3:00PM PAI 4.18
Wr
C2
HIS 329U • Persp On Sci And Math-Uteach-W
39515-39520 • Spring 2010
Meets MWF 11:00AM-12:00PM PAI 4.18
C2
HIS 322M • History Of Modern Science
38975 • Spring 2009
Meets MWF 2:00PM-3:00PM BUR 108
HIS 322M • History Of Modern Science
40022 • Spring 2008
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM ART 1.110
HIS 322M • History Of Modern Science
38690 • Spring 2006
Meets MWF 12:00PM-1:00PM PMA 6.126
Videos
Einstein, Relativity and Myths
A talk for the Jefferson Center for the Study of Core Texts and Ideas.