The Hindsight Laboratory: Conventional and Speculative Histories of Climate Change

Dr. Avner Wishnitzer

Dr. On Barak

The course will be part of a new research laboratory, supported by the Zvi Yavetz School of Historical Studies, that will employ conventional tools of historical research alongside methods taken from the field of speculative (or counter-factual) history. We plan to examine historically processes considered crucial to global warming (such as population growth, industrialization, the rise of the car society and meat consumption). We then plan to examine counterfactual scenarios that might have derailed them from their injurious path. Geographically, we will discuss different regions from the perspective of global history. Chronologically, we will focus on the twentieth century. Thematically, we will weave environmental topics into wider discussions of economic, political, social and cultural issues. Students who will enroll in the course will join one of the research teams that will form during the year and will engage in historical research under the guidance of more experienced researchers.

• The lab is not exclusively designed to students and scholars of the environment. We welcome researchers interested in anything that falls inside the wide spectrum of the humanities and beyond.