Award-Winning History Of Science
Tutors
Who needs tutoring?
FEATURED BY
TUTORS FROM
- YaleUniversity
- PrincetonUniversity
- StanfordUniversity
- CornellUniversity
Award-Winning History Of Science Tutors

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Jeff
Few tutors can navigate the history of science the way someone trained in both philosophy and history can. Jeff's Princeton philosophy degree and Berkeley history M.A. let him trace how paradigm shifts — from Copernican heliocentrism to Darwin's natural selection to quantum mechanics — emerged from ...
University of California-Berkeley
Masters, History
Princeton University
B.A. in philosophy

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Arianna
Arianna's neuroscience degree makes her a natural fit for History of Science — she's lived inside the scientific process and can explain how paradigm shifts actually happen, from Galileo's heliocentrism to the discovery of DNA's structure. She unpacks the social, political, and institutional forces ...
Dartmouth College
Bachelor of Science
Certified Tutor
Danelle
The history of science is really a story about how people think — why paradigms form, how evidence gets interpreted through cultural lenses, and what makes one theory replace another. Danelle's PhD in cognitive psychology gives her a unique lens on figures like Kuhn, Darwin, and Skinner, connecting ...
Ohio State University-Main Campus
PHD, Cognitive Psychology
Denison University
Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Mimi
I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all su...
Harvard University
Masters in Education, Education
Dartmouth College
B.A.
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Aaron
I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old e...
The University of Texas at Dallas
Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering
Duke University
Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Nina
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant ...
Columbia University
Masters in biostatistics
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences (focus in neurobiology)
Columbia University in the City of New York
Current Grad Student, Biostatistics
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults...
Harvard University
PHD, Education
Wesleyan University
Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
Certified Tutor
Michelle
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medici...
Baylor College of Medicine
Current Grad Student, M.D.
Rice University
Bachelor's in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Certified Tutor
Christopher
I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College and am about to declare as a Mechanical Engineering concentrator, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I've always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with my peers and those around me and have done so in both formal and informal settings. I've been a tut...
Harvard College
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
Liz
I am a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Humanities and Anthropology. Since graduation, I have worked as a tutor, teacher, and director of tutors at a charter public middle school in Boston. During this time I also received ...
Simmons College
Masters, Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities 5-12
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Arts in History (minors in Humanities and Anthropology)
Certified Tutor
Charles
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best descr...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Solange
I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campu...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts (Sociology & Women's Studies)
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Justin
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Com...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor's in Physics and Mathematics
University of Chicago
Doctor of Philosophy, Computational Mathematics
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Ingrid
I am exploring my creativity by pursuing a double major in Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus in Korean, studying abroad in South Korea as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar, leading workshops that teach 3D printing and CAD for undergraduate students as the president of 3D4E, advocating for the fir...
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering
Certified Tutor
Elena
I am a graduate of McGill University (BA First Class Honors) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc First Class Honors with Distinction) with over eight years of tutoring experience. I am currently a curriculum developer for a company which creates relatable and culturally-literate courses for middle ...
University of Edinburgh
Masters, Biblical Studies
Mcgill University
Bachelor in Arts, Religious Studies
Top 20 Social Studies Subjects
Meet Varsity Tutors Experts
Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.
Charles
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing
Solange
Calculus Tutor • +31 Subjects
I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campus); social sciences; and literature/writing. Hobbies: books, hiking, reading, music, writing, art
Justin
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +48 Subjects
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Computational and Applied Mathematics. I've tutored introductory physics students for three years and enjoyed it thoroughly, as a chance to help other students while revisiting fundamental concepts to enhance my own knowledge. I'm eager to continue reaching out and helping students of math and physics to succeed and, furthermore, to appreciate the beauty and power of these subjects.
Ingrid
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +51 Subjects
I am exploring my creativity by pursuing a double major in Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus in Korean, studying abroad in South Korea as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar, leading workshops that teach 3D printing and CAD for undergraduate students as the president of 3D4E, advocating for the first-generation and low-income student community as the Outreach Chair of the Quest+ Scholars Network, and getting involved with the Society of Women Engineers' outreach committee. I currently hold a work-study position as an administrative clerical aide in the Institute of Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern and was an undergraduate researcher in the John Rogers Lab. As I look forward with aspirations of applying to graduate school, areas of research in biomedical engineering and biotechnology that I am particularly interested in include biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and drug delivery systems. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy learning on my own and sharing my experience and knowledge with my peers and other students. I hope to make use of my experiences with academics and learning in high school and so far in my undergraduate career in order to effectively tutor students who may be experiencing the same struggles in learning that I also experienced.
Elena
Calculus Tutor • +31 Subjects
I am a graduate of McGill University (BA First Class Honors) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc First Class Honors with Distinction) with over eight years of tutoring experience. I am currently a curriculum developer for a company which creates relatable and culturally-literate courses for middle and high-schools, and am particularly adept at communicating and explaining concepts in a quirky, engaging, and intelligent manner. I was named Scotland International Young Thinker of the Year 2014 for exactly that sort of work. Much of my tutoring background is in test-prep and essay coaching, which I enjoy because it allows the tutor and student to think strategically together, and work as a team to achieve concrete results. I have worked with students ranging in age from 6-32, and believe that, in an educational context, a few jokes never hurt anybody. I love reading and learning, and my educational approach is centered around making the material just as engaging to students as it is to me. I think J.K. Rowlings, the writer of Harry Potter, is just as brilliant as Stephen Hawking, and in my free time, I manage my (terrible) fantasy baseball team, write songs for my comedy band, and crack jokes about terrible science-fiction movies with my friends.
Daniel
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am excited to be home and help fellow straphangers on their educational paths! My largest wealth of tutoring experience is in foreign languages--particularly French--but I also feel very comfortable editing essays of any kind and working through standardized test concepts. My availability is extremely flexible, and anywhere in New York City works for me. I look forward to working with you.
Henry
Calculus Tutor • +41 Subjects
I'm eager to help you in your education. I'm a recent graduate of Harvard College looking to apply to law school. My senior thesis was written on John Dewey's ideas of education, which I deeply believe has incredible power to transform individuals and society.
Sabira
Middle School Math Tutor • +35 Subjects
I am currently attending Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a dual degree in Computer Science and Applied Math and Statistics. I love helping students and I love the feeling I get knowing that I was able to use my knowledge to make someone else happier. My favorite subject to teach is math because there are so many ways to learn it and if one way does not help I can use another. I used to teach taekwondo and interacted with all kinds of students, and I'm excited to help out more! Hobbies: books, reading, music, writing, art
Asta
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +73 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare them for college in the United States.
James
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +40 Subjects
I am currently a senior at Harvard College where I study chemistry, and I'll be attending Columbia Medical School next year. I have years of experience tutoring college students in math (mostly calculus) and chemistry including both general and organic chemistry. In addition, I am very familiar with all sections of the SAT and ACT having prepared several high school students for these tests. I believe that every student is capable of boosting his or her baseline score on these tests, so long as he or she works hard to get to know the format of the tests and the most popular types of questions. I tutor because I love seeing students develop a genuine passion for the subjects they once disliked (such as math and science), once they understand the power of these subjects and their applications to the real world.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students often struggle with distinguishing between correlation and causation in historical scientific claims—for example, understanding why early theories about disease transmission were rejected despite seeming logical. Another common challenge is tracking how scientific paradigms shift over time (think the transition from Ptolemaic to Heliocentric models), which requires holding multiple competing frameworks in mind simultaneously. Additionally, many students find it difficult to contextualize scientific discoveries within their broader social, political, and economic environments, leading to oversimplified narratives about "great men" rather than understanding how institutions, funding, and cultural factors shaped scientific progress.
Strong arguments in History of Science require distinguishing between primary source evidence (the actual scientific writings, experimental records, or correspondence from the period) and secondary interpretations about what those sources mean. You'll need to evaluate whether a scientist's conclusions were justified by their evidence at the time, rather than judging them by modern standards. Tutoring can help you develop frameworks for analyzing how scientists built their arguments, what assumptions they made, and where their evidence fell short—skills that transfer directly to research papers and essays where you need to defend claims about scientific developments with specific textual support.
Individual discoveries (like the discovery of oxygen) focus on what was found and who found it, while scientific revolutions involve fundamental shifts in how scientists ask questions and interpret evidence—like the move from alchemy to chemistry or from Newtonian to quantum physics. Tutoring helps you move beyond memorizing key figures and dates to analyzing *why* entire communities of scientists adopted new frameworks, what resistance they faced, and how evidence accumulated until the old paradigm became untenable. This analytical approach is essential for essays and exams that ask you to explain causation in scientific change, not just describe what happened.
Historical scientists operated within the constraints of their era—limited technology, different statistical methods, and cultural assumptions that shaped what they could observe and how they interpreted it. Learning to spot these limitations means asking questions like: What tools did they lack? What populations did they study (and which did they exclude)? What alternative explanations did they dismiss without testing? A tutor can guide you through reading empirical studies critically, recognizing how gender, race, and class biases influenced what questions got asked and funded, and understanding that scientific progress often involved correcting previous methodological flaws—not just accumulating more facts.
History of Science teaches you to recognize patterns: how scientists build consensus, what counts as evidence, how institutions shape research priorities, and how long paradigm shifts take. By studying past scientific controversies (like the germ theory debates or the acceptance of plate tectonics), you develop frameworks for understanding modern disagreements—whether about climate science, medical treatments, or emerging technologies. Tutoring helps you move beyond "this theory is right/wrong" to analyzing the *process* by which scientific communities evaluate evidence, which builds critical thinking skills applicable to understanding how science actually works in the real world.
Effective History of Science papers go beyond summarizing what scientists believed to analyzing *how* and *why* scientific knowledge changed. You'll need to engage with primary sources (original scientific texts, letters, lab notebooks) alongside secondary scholarship, and construct arguments about causation that account for multiple factors—technological availability, institutional support, cultural context, and the quality of evidence itself. Common weaknesses include treating science as inevitable progress, focusing only on famous individuals, or failing to explain why alternatives were rejected. A tutor can help you develop a thesis that addresses genuine historical questions ("Why did this theory win out over that one?") and organize evidence to support claims about scientific change with specificity and nuance.
Beyond subject knowledge, an effective History of Science tutor understands how to teach analytical reading of complex scientific texts, help students construct nuanced arguments about causation and change, and guide critical evaluation of evidence and methodology. They should be able to explain how scientific paradigms work, contextualize discoveries within their historical moment, and help you move beyond memorization to deeper conceptual understanding. Look for tutors who can model the kind of thinking historians of science actually do—asking questions about why certain ideas succeeded, how institutions shaped research, and what we can learn from past scientific debates about how knowledge is built and contested.
At introductory levels, tutoring helps you build foundational knowledge about major scientific revolutions and key figures while developing the habit of asking "why did this change happen?" rather than just "what happened?" At intermediate levels, a tutor can help you engage with primary sources, construct evidence-based arguments, and understand how to contextualize science within broader social systems. At advanced levels (AP or college coursework), tutoring focuses on sophisticated analysis of historiographical debates, critical evaluation of competing interpretations, and the ability to write research-driven papers that make original arguments about scientific change. Personalized instruction ensures you're building skills appropriate to your current level while preparing for the next.
Connect with History Of Science Tutors
Get matched with expert tutors in your subject


