Waseda University
School for International Liberal Studies
1-6-1 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo, 169-8050
Japan早稲田大学国際教養学部
〒169-8050 東京都新宿区西早稲田1−6−1
University of Toronto,Toronto, ON
Ph.D., History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, 2000–2004
M.A., History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, 1996–1998St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM
B.A., Liberal Arts, 1991–1995
2020-Present, Waseda University, Professor (see my Waseda teaching webpage)
2015-Present, Waseda University, Associate Professor
2009-2015, Waseda University, Assistant Professor
2007–2009, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Postdoctoral Fellow
2005–2007, National Science Foundation, Science Studies Postdoctoral Fellow
2005–2007, Simon Fraser University, Department of History, Instructor
2004–2005, University of Toronto Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow
History of the exact sciences in the ancient and medieval periods; cross-cultural transmission of science in the ancient and medieval periods; history of mathematics. Current focus on the transmission of the Greco-Roman mathematical sciences into the Arabic world and the critical assessment of manuscript diagrams.
M.A. thesis on Archytas of Terentum and Greek music theory in the classical period.
Ph.D. thesis entitled Ptolemy’s Mathematical Approach: Applied Mathematics in the Second Century. Thesis Advisor: Alexander Jones.
Books
Sidoli, N., Thomas, R.S.D., (2023), The Spherics of Theodosios (London: Routledge). [Color images]
Sidoli, N., Isahaya, Y., (2018), Thābit ibn Qurra’s Restoration of Euclid’s Data (New York: Springer). [Corrections and Additions]
Sidoli, N., Van Brummelen, G., eds. (2014), From Alexandria, Through Baghdad: Surveys and Studies in the Ancient Greek and Medieval Islamic Mathematical Sciences in Honor of J.L. Berggren (Heidelberg: Springer).
Reviews: Suhayl 14 (by J. Chabás), Historia Mathematica 44 (by M. Moyon)Refereed Papers and Book Chapters
Sidoli, N. (2022), Translations in the mathematical sciences, in S. Brentjes, with P. Bowler, R. Brentjes, eds., Routledge Handbook on the Sciences in the Islamicate World, (London: Routledge), pp. 39-56.
Sidoli, N. (2020), Mathematical discourse in philosophical authors: Examples from Theon of Smyrna and Cleomedes on mathematical astronomy, in A. Jones, C. Carman, eds., Instruments – Observations – Theories: Studies in the History of Astronomy in Honor of James Evans, Zenodo (Open Access), DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3928498, pp. 213-228.
Sidoli, N. (2020), Mathematical methods in Ptolemy’s Analemma, in D. Juste, B. van Dalen, D.N. Hasse, and C. Burnett, eds., Ptolemy’s Science of the Stars in the Middle Ages, (Turnhout: Brepols), pp. 35-77.
Sidoli, N. (2020), Fundamentals of ancient planetary theory, in A.C. Bowen, and F. Rochberg, eds., Hellenistic Astronomy: The Science in Its Contexts, (Leiden: Brill), pp. 63-70.
Sidoli, N. (2020), Ancient Greek mathematics, in L. Taub, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Greek and Roman Science, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), pp. 185-207.
Sidoli, N., Isahaya, Y. (2019), Nasir al-Din al-Tusi’s Comments on Euclid’s Data, Historia Mathematica 47, 87-105.
Sidoli, N. (2018a), Uses of construction in problems and theorems in Euclid’s Elements I–VI, Archive for the History of Exact Sciences 72, 353-402.
Sidoli, N. (2018b), The concept of given in Greek mathematics, Archive for the History of Exact Sciences 72, 403-452.
Sidoli, N. (2018c), Greek mathematics, in A. Jones, L. Taub, eds., The Cambridge History of Science: Vol. 1, Ancient Science, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), pp. 345-373.
Sidoli, N. (2016), Learned man and woman in antiquity and the middle ages, in B. Lightman, ed., A Companion to History of Science (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell), pp. 25-38.
Sidoli, N. (2015), Mathematics education, in W.M. Bloomer, ed., A Companion to Ancient Education (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell), pp. 387-400.
Sidoli, N., Kusuba, T. (2014), Al-Harawi's version of Menelaus’ Spherics, Suhayl 13, 149-212.
Sidoli, N. (2014b), Mathematical tables in Ptolemy’s Almagest, Historia Mathematica 41, 13-37.
Sidoli, N. (2014a), Research on ancient Greek mathematical sciences, 1998–2012, in N. Sidoli, G., Van Brummelen, eds., From Alexandria, Through Baghdad (Berlin: Springer), pp. 25-50.
Saito, K., Sidoli, N. (2012), Diagrams and arguments in ancient Greek mathematics: Lessons drawn from comparisons of the manuscript diagrams with those in modern critical editions, in K. Chemla, ed., The History of Mathematical Proof in Ancient Traditions (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), pp. 135-162.
Sidoli, N., Saito, K. (2012), Comparative analysis in Greek geometry, Historia Mathematica 39, 1–33.
Sidoli, N. (2010), Heron of Alexandria’s date, Centaurus 53, 55–61. [Corrections]
Saito, K., Sidoli, N. (2010), The function of diorism in ancient Greek analysis, Historia Mathematica 37, 579–614.
Sidoli, N., Saito, K. (2009), The role of geometrical construction in Theodosius’s Spherics, Archive for History of Exact Sciences 63, 581-609.
Sidoli, N., Kusuba, T. (2008), Nasir al-Din al-Tusi’s revision of Theodosius’s Spherics, Suhayl 9, 9-46.
Sidoli, N., Berggren, J.L. (2007), The Arabic version of Ptolemy’s Planisphere or Flattening the Surface of the Sphere: Text, translation, commentary, SCIAMVS 8, 37-139.
Sidoli, N. (2007), What we can learn from a diagram: The case of Aristarchus’ On the sizes and distances of the Sun and the Moon, Annals of Science 64, 525 - 547.
Hanna, G., Sidoli, N. (2007), Visualization and proof: A brief survey of philosophical perspectives, Zentralblatt für Didaktik der Mathematik 39, 73-78.
Berggren, J.L., Sidoli, N. (2007), Aristarchus’ On the Sizes and Distances of the Sun and the Moon: Greek and Arabic texts, Archive for History of Exact Sciences 61, 213-254.
Sidoli, N. (2006), The sector theorem attributed to Menelaus, SCIAMVS 7, 43-79.
Hanna, G., Sidoli, N. (2006), Visualization and proof: A brief survey, in A. Simpson, ed., Retirement as Process and Concept (Prague: Karlova Univerzita v Praze), pp. 101-109.
Sidoli, N. (2005), Heron’s Dioptra 35 and analemma methods: An astronomical determination of the distance between two cities, Centaurus 47, 236-258.
Sidoli, N. (2004b), Hipparchus and the ancient metrical methods on the sphere, Journal for the History of Astronomy 35, 74-86. [Corrections]
Sidoli, N. (2004a), On the use of the term diastêma in ancient Greek constructions, Historia Mathematica 31, 2-10. [Corrections and Additions]
Hanna, G., DeBruyn, Y., Sidoli, N., Lomas, D. (2004), Teaching proof in the context of physics, Zentralblatt für Didaktik der Mathematik 36, 82-90.
Hanna, G., Sidoli, N. (2002), The story of ESM, Educational Studies in Mathematics 50, 123-156.
Non-Refereed Papers, Essay Reviews and Research Reports
Sidoli, N. (2013), Review of P. Riedlberger, Domninus of Larissa, Encheiridon and Spurious Works (Fabrizio Serra: Pisa, 2013), SCIAMVS 14, 259-263.
Sidoli, N., Li, C. (2010), The manuscript diagrams of al-Harawī’s version of Menelaus’ Spherics, in K. Saito, ed., Reproduced Diagrams from Greek and Arabic Manuscripts, Research report for “Databasing the manuscript diagrams of sources in ancient and medieval mathematics,” Japan Society for Promotion of Science Grants-in-Aid, 2009–2010, no. 21300325, Principle investigator: Ken Saito, pp. 1-68.『古代中世数学文献の図版のデータベース化』平成21年度～平成22年度科学研究費補助金（基盤研究(B)）21300325報告書．（研究代表者：斎藤憲．)
Sidoli, N. (2011), Review of R. Rashed, M. Decorps-Foulquier, and M. Federspiel, Apollonius de Perge: edition et traduction du text grec et arabe, 4 vols. (Walter de Gruyter: 2008-2010), Isis 102, 537-542.
Sidoli, N. (2011), Mathematical tables in Ptolemy’s Almagest, Mathematisches Forshungsinstitut Oberwolfach, Report No. 12/2011, Mini-workshop: History of Numerical and Graphical Tables, organized by R. Tobies and D. Tournes, Feb. 27th – Mar. 5th, 34-37.
Sidoli, N. (2009),「 Drawing diagrams and making arguments in Greek geometry」『津田塾大学数学・計算機学研究所報30第19回数学史シンポジウム（2008）』津田塾大学数学・計算機学研究所，2009年，133−150頁．(Reports of the Tsuda College Institute for Mathematical and Computer Science: Proceedings of the 19th Symposium in the History of Mathematics, 30, 133-150.)
Sidoli, N. (2004), Review of R. Netz, The Works of Archimedes: Translation and Commentary, Vol. 1 (Cambridge: 2004), Aestimatio 1, 148-162.
Hanna, G., DeBruyn, Y., Sidoli, N., Lomas, D. (2002), An application of concepts from statics to geometrical proofs, in Rogerson, A., ed., Proceedings of International Conference on the Humanistic Renaissance in Mathematics Education (Palermo), pp. 166-171.
Book Reviews
Sidoli, N. (2019), Review of Rashed, R., Papadopoulos, A., Menelaus’ ›Spherics‹: Early Translation and al-Māhānī/al-Harawī’s Version (Berlin, De Gruyter, 2017), Aestimatio 14, 14-21.
Sidoli, N. (2019), Review of Fournet, J.-L., Tihon, A., Conformément aux observations d’Hipparque: le Papyrus Fouad inv.267 A (Louvain-la-Neuve, Peeters, 2014), Aestimatio 14, 1-5.
Sidoli, N. (2019), Review of Sialaros, M., Revolutions and Continuity in Greek Mathematics (Berlin, De Gruyter, 2018), Isis 110, 809-810.
Sidoli, N. (2019), Review of Rashed, R., Papadopoulos, A., Menelaus’ ›Spherics‹: Early Translation and al-Māhānī / al-Harawī’s Version (Berlin, De Gruyter, 2017), Bryn Mawr Classical Review, January, 2019.
Sidoli, N. (2017), Review of K. Chemla and J. Virbel, Texts, Textual Acts, and the History of Science (Springer: New York, 2015), Isis 108, 417-418.
Sidoli, N. (2014), Review of A.C. Bowen, Simplicius on the Planets and their Motions: In Defense of a Heresy (Brill: Leiden, 2013), Bryn Mawr Classical Review, March, 2014.
Sidoli, N. (2013), Review of P. Kunitzsch and R. Lorch, Theodosius Sphaerica (Franz Steiner Verlag: Stuttgart, 2010), Journal of the American Oriental Society 133, 592-593.
Sidoli, N. (2013), Review of O. Pedersen, A Survey of the Almagest, with annotation and new commentary by Alexander Jones (New York: Springer, 2010), Historia Mathematica 40, 92-93.
Sidoli, N. (2012), Review of E. Hayashi and K. Saito, Tenbin no Majutsushi: Arukimedesu no Sūgaku (Sorcerer of the Scales: Archimedes’ Mathematics) (Tokyo: Kyōritsu Shuppan, 2009), Historia Mathematica 39, 222-224.
Sidoli, N. (2010), Review of D. Lehoux, Astronomy, Weather, and Calendars in the Ancient World: Parapegmata and Related Texts in Classical and Near-Eastern Societies (Cambridge: 2007), Journal for the History of Astronomy 41, 124-126.
Sidoli, N. (2009), Review of A. Barker, The Science of Harmonics in Classical Greece (Cambridge: 2007), Bryn Mawr Classical Review, October, 2009.
Sidoli, N. (2008), Review of J. Friberg, Unexpected Links Between Egyptian and Babylonian Mathematics (Hakensack, NJ: 2005) and Amazing Traces of a Babylonian Origin in Greek Mathematics (Hakensack, NJ: 2007), Aestimatio 5, 141-146.
Sidoli, N. (2008), Review of L. Zhmud, (trans. A. Chernoglazov) The Origin of the History of Science in Classical Antiquity , (Berlin: 2006), The Classical Review 58, 80-82.
Sidoli, N. (2006), Review of J. Cristianidis, ed., Classics in the History of Greek Mathematics (Dordrecht: 2005), Historia Mathematica 33, 491-493.
Sidoli, N. (2006), Review of C. M. Taisbak, Euclid’s Data or the Importance of Being Given (Copenhagen: 2003), Historia Mathematica 32, 248-250.
Sidoli, N. (2005), Review of R. Netz, The Shaping of Deduction in Greek Mathematics (Cambridge: 1999), Educational Studies in Mathematics 58, 222-282.
Sidoli, N. (2004), Review of A. L. Bowen and R. B. Todd, Cleomedes’ Lectures on Astronomy: A Translation of The Heavens (Berkeley: 2004), Bryn Mawr Classical Review, August, 2004.
Sidoli, N. (2004), Review of P. Suppes, J. M. Moravcsik, & H. Mendell, eds., Ancient and Medieval Traditions in the Exact Sciences: Essays in Memory of Wilbur Knorr (Stanford: 2000), Annals of Science 61, 244-246.
Sidoli, N. (2002), Review of R. Netz, The Shaping of Deduction in Greek Mathematics (Cambridge: 1999), Canadian Journal for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education 2, 415-418.
“The Spherics of Theodosios and his Predecessors,” Delphi symposium on Greek Mathematics, European Cultural Centre of Delphi, Greece, Oct. 2023.
“Thabit ibn Qurra’s Uses of Euclid’s Data,” Current Trends in the History of Science in Muslim Societies: Debates, Approaches, and Stakes, New York University Abu Dabi, New York, Dec. 2019. The Second International Conference on History of Mathematics and Astronomy, Dec. 2019.
“Thabit ibn Qurra’s Version of Euclid’s Data,” The Second International Conference on History of Mathematics and Astronomy, Northwest University, Xi’an, Dec. 2018.
“Euclid’s Postulates and Problems,” Workshop in History of Greek Mathematics, Stanford University, Stanford, Oct. 2017.
“Ptolemy’s Mathematics: An eight hour lecture series,,” Doctorado en Historia y Filosofía de la Ciencia de la Universidad Nacional Tres de Febrero, Buenos Aires, Aug. 2017.
“Nasir al-Din al-Tusi’s Comments on Euclid’s Data,” On Mathemata: Commenting on Ancient Greek and Arabic Mathematical Texts, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, TOPOI, Nov. 2016.
“Analog Calculations in Ptolemy’s Analemma,” Conference on Ptolemy’s Science of the Stars in the Middle Ages, The Warburg Institute, London, Nov. 2015.
“Constructions in Euclid's Elements I-IV,” PhilMath InterSem, Paris, Jun. 2015.
“Mathematical Tables in Ptolemy’s Almagest,” Joint Mathematics Meetings (American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America), San Diego, Jan. 2013.
“Mathematical Tables in Ptolemy’s Almagest,” Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach, Mini-Workshop: History of Numerical and Graphical Tables, Feb. 27th - Mar. 5th, 2011.
“Constructive Mathematics in Menelaus’ Spherics: Reflections arising in editing the al-Harawi version,” Joint Mathematics Meetings (American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America), New Orleans, Jan. 2011.
“The Construction, Purpose and Use of Mathematical Tables in Ptolemy’s Almagest,” Séminaire d’histoire et de philosophie des mathématiques, Tables et astronomie, Paris, Mar. 2010.
“Constructions in ancient Greek Spherics: Mathematical spheres and solid globes,” Séminaire d’histoire des mathématiques de l’Institut Henri Poincaré: Histoire des sciences, Histoire du texte, Paris, Feb. 2010.
“The Function of Numerical Tables in the Mathematical Structure of Ptolemy’s Almagest,” XXIII International Congress of History of Science and Technology, Budapest, Jul. 2009.
“Drawing diagrams and making arguments in Greek mathematics,” Joint Mathematics Meetings (American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America), Washington D.C., Jan. 2009.
“Diagrams in Greek Mathematics: Mathematical practice and the manuscript tradition in Theodosius’s Spherics,” 19th Symposium in the History of Mathematics at Tsuda College, Tokyo, Oct. 2008.
“Mathematical Methods in Ptolemy’s Planisphere,” Annual meeting of the Japanese Society for the History of Science, Kyoto, Apr. 2008.
“Ptolemy’s Planisphere: Reflections arising in editing the Arabic text,” (Joint work with J. L. Berggren.) Annual meeting of the Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Mathematics, Montreal, Jul. 2007.
“Diagrams for Prop. 13 of Aristarchus’ On the Sizes and Distances of the Sun and Moon: Historiographic issues arising in a study of manuscript diagrams,” Workshop on the Critical Edition of Manuscript Diagrams, Osaka, Japan, Nov. 2006.
“The Role of (Re)construction in Understanding Heron’s Dioptra 35: Diagrammatic and mathematical (re)constructions for finding the great-arc distance between two cities,” Workshop of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 2006.
“Ptolemy’s Mathematical Epistemology,” Friday Evening Lecture, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Apr. 2006.
“Ptolemy on Mathematics, the Human Soul and the Physical World,” Annual Meeting of the Columbia History of Science Group, Friday Harbor, Mar. 2006.
“The Concept of Compound Ratio in Late Antiquity,” Canadian Mathematical Society Annual Winter Meeting, Victoria, Dec. 2005.
“The Sector Theorem Attributed to Menelaus,” Biennial History of Astronomy Workshop at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, Jul. 2005.
“Episodes in the History of Greek Trigonometry,” Seminar in the History and Philosophy of Mathematics, York University, Toronto, Jan. 2005.
“Mathematical Texts in Ptolemy’s Works,” Colloquium Series of the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto, Dec. 2004.
“Analysis in Heron’s Measurements,” Canadian Mathematical Society Annual Meeting, Montreal, Dec. 2004.
“Menelaus’ Theorem in Ptolemy and Theon,” Canadian Mathematical Society Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Dec. 2003.
Wide range of intellectual and artistic interests. Engaged in creative writing: poetry, fiction, and screenplays. Working knowledge of the three major desktop operating systems. Working knowledge of LaTeX and Mathematica® (with a package on Ptolemy’s trigonometry published). Reading knowledge of French, German, Latin, Arabic and Ancient Greek. Conversational and written Japanese.
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