ABOUT ME

Restless Device is created by me, Dave Unger, in Amherst, MA. I’m a historian of technology by training, a public historian by trade, and a tinkerer by inclination.

My work orbits around questions about work, skill, the poetics of technology, regional economics, and what it takes to create a humane life and society. I’ve shared what I’ve found in a wide variety of formats, including museum exhibits, videos, podcasts, elementary school programs, walking tours, and more.

I have a PhD in the History of Science from Harvard and I’ve worked a variety of contexts. I grew up on a farm in eastern Pennsylvania. At times I’ve worked as a laborer, organic gardener, rigger, house carpenter, and I built sets for tv and theater. I spent years designing, building, and installing museum exhibits. Lately, I’ve mostly worked in museums on the management/leadership side. At one point, I managed a team of twenty folks and a budget of 1.5 million dollars. These days I’m a lecturer in Harvard’s history of science department and look after the administration of a collection of old scientific instruments. See here for more details about past projects and activities.

If you’d like to collaborate with me or have a question, you can reach me at dave@restlessdevice.com.