UCL History Alumnus Luis Fernando Bernardi Junqueira Wins Prestigious DHST Dissertation Prize
16 January 2025
Congratulations to our alumni, Luis Fernando Bernardi Junqueira, for winning the 8th Dissertation Prize from the Division of History of Science and Technology (DHST).

Luis’s award-winning PhD thesis, The Science of the Spirit: Psychical Research, Healthcare and the Revival of the Occult in a Modernising China, 1900–1949, explores the deep fascination of Chinese elites with mental powers and paranormal phenomena in the early 20th century. Guided by Vivienne Lo and Sonu Shamdasani, Luis’s research sheds light on how psychical research shaped Chinese perspectives on health, spirituality, and modernity.
DHST: “This fascinating dissertation examines the history of psychical research in China during the transformative period spanning the end of the empire to the establishment of the People’s Republic. The range and depth of documentation are dazzling. The author demonstrates exceptional insight and skill in describing how spiritual and psychical ideas were utilized and incorporated into systems of thought and healthcare. The dissertation highlights the often-overlooked role of psychology in modernization and reveals how psychical research merged scientific inquiry with spiritual practices. Eloquently written and meticulously argued, it is a significant contribution to the field.”