Kevin K. Olsen
Papers
1
Total Citations
5
H-Index
1
About
Kevin K. Olsen is a historian of science and technology whose research explores the intersection of laboratory practice, automation, and wartime innovation. His most-cited work, “Rosie the Robot, Laboratory Automation and the Second World War, 1941 to 1945” (1997), examines how World War II-era labor and material shortages drove early efforts to automate chemical laboratories—long before modern robotics. By tracing the origins of efficiency-driven automation back to the 1940s, Olsen challenges the notion that lab automation is a purely contemporary phenomenon, revealing its deep roots in military-industrial necessity. Though his citation count is modest, his work offers a foundational perspective for scholars studying the history of scientific instrumentation and the cultural logic of productivity. Olsen’s research is especially valuable for students and researchers interested in how historical contexts shape technological development, reminding us that the drive to “do more with less” has shaped laboratory science for generations. His contributions highlight the often-overlooked human and historical dimensions of automation.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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