History of Science and Environmental Thought

We investigate the evolving history of key scientific concepts (e.g., the Standard Model; physical laws; heliocentric universe; genetic evolution; contemporary climate change). We analyze how science communities respond to new ideas in philosophy (e.g., humans’ relationship to nature), politics (e.g., revolutions), economics (e.g., capitalism), and technology (e.g., emergence of the internet). In team projects, we will draw insights from ecology, geography, economics, and anthropology to explore the various ways in which the influences human life, at multiple physical and temporal scales, blurring disciplinary boundaries between the humanities and the sciences.