Zi Yun Huang, University of Chicago, "Cold War interference: bioluminescence, underwater UFOs, the Deep Scattering Layer and other 'unfortunate behaviors' of plankton"
Historians of science have recently begun to examine role of the oceans themselves in human activity, not just as a pathway between places that matter, but as a place with a history of its own, with which humans have always interacted. In turning their gaze to the other two thirds of the earth's surface, scholars thus acknowledge the oceans as a changeable and changing place, affecting and affected by human activities. This "oceanic turn" is playing out in the humanities broadly, as scholars in many disciplines explore the role of the oceans in human endeavors including labor, culture, politics, industry, law, or literature. Spanning many different periods and regions around the world, this group will examine broad conceptions of oceans across history.
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Participants at Consortium activities will treat each other with respect and consideration to create a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment that is free from any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
Participants will avoid any inappropriate actions or statements based on individual characteristics such as age, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, nationality, political affiliation, ability status, educational background, or any other characteristic protected by law. Disruptive or harassing behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Harassment includes but is not limited to inappropriate or intimidating behavior and language, unwelcome jokes or comments, unwanted touching or attention, offensive images, photography without permission, and stalking.
Participants may send reports or concerns about violations of this policy to conduct@chstm.org.
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 2:00 - 3:30 pm EDT
Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 2:00 - 3:30 pm EDT
E. M. Nielsen, Brown University
Group Conveners
Max Bridge
I am a PhD Candidate in History at Brown University. My disseration - "Oceanic Listening" - explores the environmental and sensory history of cetaceans and underwater sound over the past 200 years, covering topics such as whaling, echolocation research, and the popular culture of whale song. I am also broadly interested in disability history and disability studies, including their intersections with environmental history.
Penelope Hardy
Penelope K. Hardy is a historian of science, technology, and medicine and an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She studies the historical intersection of technology and the ocean sciences. Her current book project examines a series of nineteenth- and twentieth-century ocean-going research vessels and the cultures and practices surrounding their use. She is a vice president of the International Commission of the History of Oceanography, is vice president for research and publications of H-Net, and helped to found H-Oceans.
Daniella McCahey
Daniella McCahey is an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University, where she primarily teaches on British history and the history of science. She studies the relationship between science and the environment in Polar Regions, especially islands, coasts, and ice shelves. She is the co-author of Antarctica: A History in 100 Objects (Bloomsbury 2022). Her book project, Laboratories at the Bottom of the World, addresses the history of British and New Zealand science in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year.
269 Members
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