Scarcerc (@scarcerc)

Sebastian Felten | MPIWG Sebastian Felten is a historian of finance, bureaucracy, and science in early modern Europe. A Research Scholar in Dept. II from 2015 to 2018, he is now a lecturer (Universitätsassistent) in History of Science at the University of Vienna. His current work is focused on Central German mining as a site of intensive exchange between the emerging earth and technical sciences, and state administrations. Central to this investigation are questions regarding unequal relationships within this knowledge economy: Which observations counted as reliable data? How were relevant experiences stored and reactivated for later use? Whose expertise was valued, and whose rejected? By comparing and contrasting commercial, scientific and administrative "fact-keeping," this project contributes to a broadening discussion about the ways in which individuals and groups used information technology—paper-based or otherwise—to engage with a complex social and natural environment. Sebastian’s project builds on a study of historical accounting practices carried out as part of his PhD at King’s College, London (“Unlikely Circuits: General Monetisation of a European Rural Society, c. 1700–1900,” supervised by Anne Goldgar and Francisco Bethencourt). Sebastian has also worked for the German Historical Institute (GHI) in London as part of the digital edition project “Pauper Letters and Petitions for Poor Relief in Germany and Great Britain, 1770–1914,” where he supervised the transcription and input of metadata, liaised between IT and researchers, designed the user interface with the programmer, and developed a keen interest in Digital Humanities.

🎉 Excited to share: our PI, @sebastianfelten.bsky.social, is joining the “Metals, Minerals, and the Life Cycle” working group at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow!🔬📚
📍 Berlin | 🗓️ Mar–May
👉 more info: bit.ly/mpiwg-felten

09.03.2026 11:15 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The problem of knowledge in the VOC’s diamond trade during the seventeenth century Presentation by Claire Sabel Workshop Saarland University Saarbrücken, Germany

📣Today in Saarbrücken: @eclaaire.bsky.social presents “The Problem of Knowledge in the VOC’s Diamond Trade during the Seventeenth Century” at the Saarland University workshop “Objects in Transit” 💎📚
👉 more info: bit.ly/4qWlNrS

26.02.2026 08:40 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

“Moon looking at ore veins. Image from Ulrich Rülein von Calw, "Eyn wolgeordent und nützlich büchlin, wie man Bergwerck suchen un finden sol" (1518)”. In the image you see a mountain with veins, 3 trees moving in the wind, the moon looking through the clouds, and around the picture, the times of day (morning (ist written twice), midday, midnight).

📣Today @sebastianfelten.bsky.social speaks at the Nouveaux chantiers en histoire moderne (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne): "Thinking of the Descendants": Time and Temporality in Early Modern Mining”⛏️✨
🕧When? 5 pm
📍Salle Perroy, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
🔗More info: bit.ly/4rk4wK9

16.02.2026 08:44 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Conducing to the knowledge of the universe and trade: the Role of Goldsmiths in Materializing the Early Modern Globe c. 1600-1700 Weekly Seminar Presentation by Claire Sabel Center for Urban History University of Antwerp

📣 Today @eclaaire.bsky.social speaks at the CSG Lunch Seminar (University of Antwerp):
“Conducing to the Knowledge of the Universe and Trade: The Role of Goldsmiths in Materializing the Early Modern Globe, c. 1600–1700” ✨🌍
🕧 When? 12:30 pm
🔗 More info: bit.ly/46iFLpc

06.02.2026 09:58 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Holz- und Holzkohleversorgung als politische Ökologie. Das Beispiel der niederungarischen Bergstädte im langen 16. Jahrhundert (ca. 1495 - ca. 1620) Congratulations to Sebastian Leitner for holding the public presentation on his dissertation proposal!

Congratulations to Sebastian Leitner, who successfully delivered a public presentation of his PhD dissertation proposal on the political ecology of the wood and charcoal supply in early modern mining in Lower Hungary. 🎓🎉
Go and read more about it here: bit.ly/4c5O4bw

29.01.2026 16:51 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Dana Murillo on Zoom

Thank you Dana Murillo for this stellar presentation!🙌
This wraps up our Colloquium series on Mineral Expertise, we are truly grateful for everyone who who came, shared, and debated!💡🙏
See you at upcoming SCARCE events—stay tuned 🔔👀
#Scarce #mininghistories

26.01.2026 18:11 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

'Roaming in Various Forms': The Wandering Women of New Spain’s Silver Mining District (1600-1800) SCARCE Colloquium Speaker: Dana Murillo (UC San Diego) University of Vienna Hybrid Event

🚨Don’t miss Dana Murillo’s talk “Roaming in Various Forms: The Wandering Women of New Spain’s Silver Mining District (1600-1800)” 👣✨🔎
🗓️ Mon, Jan 26, 2026
🕘 17:30–19:00 CET
👉 Register now: bit.ly/WanderingWomen
#womenshistories

22.01.2026 12:34 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

✨Some time has passed since our Septmeber workshop "Political Economies of Mining in the Early Modern World", organised by @eclaaire.bsky.social & @gbba.bsky.social. Curious about the discussions and insights?💡 Read the report witten by our PhD student Sebastian Leitner for @hsozkult.bsky.social! 📖🔎

21.01.2026 16:42 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

'Roaming in Various Forms': The Wandering Women of New Spain’s Silver Mining District (1600-1800) SCARCE Colloquium Speaker: Dana Murillo (UC San Diego) University of Vienna Hybrid Event

Join us for our last Colloquium this semester!🎓
Dana Murillo will present: “Roaming in Various Forms: The Wandering Women of New Spain’s Silver Mining District (1600-1800)”✨👣
🗓️ Jan 26, 2026
🕘 17:30–19:00 CET
Learn more and register: bit.ly/WanderingWomen
#womenshistories

19.01.2026 09:52 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Mit Gott im Silberrausch: Zeittechniken im Bergbau der Neuzeit Talk by Sebastian Felten Department of German Studies University of Innsbruck

Whoever is in Innsbruck tomorow, be sure not to miss @sebastianfelten.bsky.social guest lecture „Mit Gott im Silberrausch: Zeittechniken im Bergbau der Neuzeit“ at the @uniinnsbruck.bsky.social. ⛏️⌛
⏰ Time: 5:15 PM CET
📅 Date: January 13, 2026
More info here: bit.ly/BergbauZeittechniken
#Scarce

12.01.2026 08:51 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

tree with golden ornaments

Happy winter days from SCARCE!❄️🕯️

We are so grateful to all of you for supporting our project and all the engaging conversations this year! Wishing you a restful break and steady discoveries in 2026.📚✨

22.12.2025 08:29 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thank you for sharing and for joining our last two meetings! :)

11.12.2025 09:59 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Screenshot der Zoom Präsentation

Huge thanks to everyone who joined today’s talk!🙌 We really enjoyed working together with the History of Science & Knowledge Colloquium and listening to Christophe Bonneuil’s fascinating talk!
Stay tuned for more events!📚✨
#histSci

09.12.2025 18:07 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Historicizing planetarity. Trans-imperial circulations, Western elites and planetary environmental knowledge and alerts around 1900 Joint meeting with the History of Science and Knowledge Colloquium Speaker: Christophe Bonneuil (CNRS-EHSS) University of Vienna Online Event

🚨Join Christophe Bonneuil’s online talk “Historicizing Planetarity: Trans-imperial Circulations, Western Elites and Planetary Environmental Knowledge and Alerts around 1900”! Co-hosted by SCARCE and History of Science & Knowledge. 🎓✨
⏰ Tomorrow, 11:30 CET
More info: bit.ly/3Ml9OFw
#histSci

08.12.2025 10:05 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 1

We are thrilled to share this! 🎉 Our PhD student & Santorio Fellow @sarahseinitzer.bsky.social has a new post on @csmbr-pisa.bsky.social blog Forma Fluens: “Bergsucht and Miner’s Chest” ⛏️🫁—about miners’ health, morbi metallici, & early social care. Go give it a read! #HistMed #Mining

05.12.2025 09:10 👍 10 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0

Zoom Screenshot of the speaker and the title page of his presentation.

A big thank you to Nuno Castel-Branco and to everyone who joined today’s lively talk!🙌
We hope you enjoyed this joint event with History of Science & Knowledge as much as we did!
Stay tuned for more events in our colloquium series. 📚✨
#histSci

02.12.2025 13:02 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thank you! It was a pleasure to have you join our discussion, and we enjoyed hearing your thoughts and learning about your personal connection to mining. 😊

02.12.2025 12:32 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Historicizing planetarity. Trans-imperial circulations, Western elites and planetary environmental knowledge and alerts around 1900 Joint meeting with the History of Science and Knowledge Colloquium Speaker: Christoph Bonneuil (CNRS-EHSS) University of Vienna Online Event

Our next Colloquium, again co-hosted with the History of Science & Knowledge Colloquium, features Christoph Bonneuil’s talk “Historicizing Planetarity: Trans-imperial Circulations, Western Elites and Planetary Environmental Knowledge and Alerts around 1900.”📚✨
📅Join us Dec 9: bit.ly/3Ml9OFw
#histSci

02.12.2025 09:44 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Problematizing Polymathy: Nicolaus Steno and the Intersection of Disciplines in Early Modern Science Joint meeting with the History of Science and Knowledge Colloquium Speaker: Nuno Castel-Branco (All Souls, Oxford) University of Vienna Online Event

🚨 Join us tomorrow at 11:30 CET for Nuno Castel-Branco's online talk: “Problematizing Polymathy: Nicolaus Steno and the Intersection of Disciplines in Early Modern Science.”✨ Co-organized by SCARCE and History of Science & Knowledge.📚

Don’t miss out – register now: bit.ly/Problematizi...

#histSci

01.12.2025 10:00 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Problematizing Polymathy: Nicolaus Steno and the Intersection of Disciplines in Early Modern Science Joint meeting with the History of Science and Knowledge Colloquium Speaker: Nuno Castel-Branco (All Souls, Oxford) University of Vienna Online Event

Join us for our next Colloquium, a joint meeting with the History of Science & Knowledge Colloquium! 🎓 On Dec 2, Nuno Castel-Branco will present “Problematizing Polymathy: Nicolaus Steno and the Intersection of Disciplines in Early Modern Science.” 📚
👉 Register here: bit.ly/Problematizi...
#histSci

25.11.2025 14:51 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Thank you to everyone who joined today’s talk! 🙌
@mininghistory.bsky.social’s insights on historians’ role in the mining industry sparked amazing discussions💡⛏️
Stay tuned for more events! 📚

#histSc

24.11.2025 16:01 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Mining the Past: What is the role of historians in the mining industry? SCARCE Colloquium Speaker: Duncan Money (Independent scholar) University of Vienna Online Event

🚨Join us this monday for the second talk in this semester’s colloquium series. @mininghistory.bsky.social presents:
“Mining the Past: What is the role of historians in the mining industry?”

📅 Nov 24, 2025
⏰ 3:00–4:30 PM CET

Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time: bit.ly/MiningThePast
#histSci

22.11.2025 13:32 👍 4 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 1

We are excited to welcome our new student assistant, Leonie Müller! 🎉 With a multidisciplinary background in History & Law at the University of Vienna, her focus spans legal history, postcolonial studies, gender history, and sustainability. 🌍📜 Welcome to the team, Leonie! 👏

20.11.2025 12:41 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Again, huge congratulations to our PI, @sebastianfelten.bsky.social, for winning the 2025 City of Vienna Prize in Social Sciences & Humanities! 🎉✨
And a big thank you to @wien.gv.at for celebrating Vienna's incredible cultural and intellectual legacy and hosting such a wonderful award ceremony. 🏆👏

19.11.2025 11:51 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Mining the Past: What is the role of historians in the mining industry? SCARCE Colloquium Speaker: Duncan Money (Independent scholar) University of Vienna Hybrid Event

✨For our second talk in this semester’s colloquium series, @mininghistory.bsky.social will present “Mining the Past: What is the role of historians in the mining industry?”⛏️📜

📅 Date: November 24, 2025

⏰ Time: 3:00–4:30 PM CET

Learn more and register: bit.ly/MiningThePast

#histSci

17.11.2025 11:35 👍 5 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 2

A Global Approach to Women in Early Modern Mining Talk at the Panel: Women’s Knowledge and Agency in Early Modern Resource Management Organizer and Speaker: Claire Sabel History of Science Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans LA, USA

Tomorrow, @eclaaire.bsky.social will present "A Global Approach to Women in Early Modern Mining" at HSS 2026, on the panel she co-organised with @gbba.bsky.social: "Women’s Knowledge and Agency in Early Modern Resource Management" ✨
🕓 4 PM (GMT-6)
🔗 Link: bit.ly/3WPv9Jv
#HSS2025 #HistSci #Scarce

13.11.2025 09:47 👍 8 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Check out the latest episode of Time to Eat the Dogs! @eclaaire.bsky.social dives into the fascinating history of the gem trade in South-East Asia 💎✨
#HistoryOfScience #Scarce #SouthEastAsia

31.10.2025 16:41 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Was Mining Once Sustainable? Resource Management as a Case for Applied History Talk by Sebastian Felten and Sebastian Leitner International Conference "Convergences and divergences in the relationship between industries and forestry in Europe: conservation, management, uses and ...

Today at 4:30PM(CET) @sebastianfelten.bsky.social and Sebastian Leitner present "Was Mining Once Sustainable? Resource Management as a Case for Applied History" at the conference "Convergences and divergences in the relationship between industries and forestry in Europe"🌲
More info: bit.ly/47ce01e

23.10.2025 10:37 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Commodity Frontiers in Eastern Europe: Environment and Societies at Global Risk, 16th-21th centuries (COMFREE) Das Forschungsprojekt COMFREE untersucht die historischen und gegenwärtigen Dynamiken der Rohstoffgewinnung und ihre sozioökologischen Auswirkungen. In Zusammenarbeit mit dem Leibniz-Institut für Ost-...

Our PI, @sebastianfelten.bsky.social, and our PhD student, Sebastian Leitner, are in Regensburg for the kick-off workshop of @tinasmussen.bsky.social project, 'COMFREE'. Congratulations on this milestone, and best wishes for productive discussions! 🌍✨ #History #Environment
bit.ly/Comfree

21.10.2025 16:13 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

4 People are sitting in a meeting in a conference room around a large table. In front of them is a screen with online participants taking part in the meeting.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the first SCARCE colloquium of the semester! 🙌 We had a lively discussion on 'reorganisation' in Mining Knowledge in Late Imperial China. Special thanks to @chensinotech.bsky.social for their inspiring work and input. Stay tuned for our next meet-up! ⛏️✨

21.10.2025 14:40 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

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