Andrew Scull is a renowned historian and professor of sociology and science studies at the University of California, San Diego. He is best known for his work on the history of psychiatry, mental illness, and the social control of madness. He has written numerous books and articles on the subject, including Madness in Civilization: A Cultural History of Insanity, from the Bible to Freud, and The Most Solitary of Afflictions: Madness and Society in Britain, 1700-1900. He has also served as a consultant for various television and film projects, including the BBC series The Asylums. Scull is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the British Academy. He is a highly respected scholar in his field and has been awarded numerous honors and awards for his work.