PhD Course - New Directions in Environmental History: Temporalities, Economies, and Technologies PhD School at the Faculty of Humanities at University of Copenhagen

[Sebastian Lundsteen]

Dear Colleagues,

I am enthused to share that Niklas Olsen, Erik Isberg, and I are convening a PhD course in Environmental History in January at the University of Copenhagen!

New Directions in Environmental History: Temporalities, Economies, and Technologies PhD School at the Faculty of Humanities at University of Copenhagen

Dates and time
22 January 2026, 8.30-17.00
23 January 2026, 9.00-13.00

Course description
In this course, we will consider the role of environmental history in the writing of contemporary history, with emphasis on how environments are configured and understood in relation to broader temporal frameworks, economic and financial incentives and technological developments. The course aims to explore new directions in environmental history and focus especially on how environmental historians can engage with theory of history, business history, history of capitalism, intellectual history and history of science and technology. In recent years, environmental history has scrutinized its own conceptual and intellectual foundations and, in light of the rise of the Anthropocene concept, paid increased attention to the relevant temporal and spatial scales of inquiry shaping the discipline. How can new environmental histories be written in the 2020s?

Academic aim
- Critically reflect on the role of history in the Anthropocene.
- Understanding and integrating one or several of the following concepts:  temporality, technology, and economy
- Being able to read and discuss works-in-progress in a generative way

Target group
We welcome applications from PhD candidates working in environmental history and other historical subdisciplines, as well as STS, political ecology, environmental humanities, anthropology, gender studies or other related disciplines

Course organisers and lecturers:
Niklas Olsen, Professor, The Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen
Sebastian Lundsteen Nielsen, Postdoc, The Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen
Erik Isberg, Eksternal Researcher, The Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen
Sabine Höhler, Professor, KTH, Sweden (keynote)

Programme

Thursday 22 January 2026
8:30 – 9:00 Coffee and get-in.
9:00-10.30: intro (short talks by Niklas, Erik and)
Break (15 min)
10:45-12:15 – Paper session 1
Lunch
13:15 – 14:45 – Paper session 2
16-17: Keynote – Sabine Höhler (Venue: CApE)
19: Dinner

Friday 23 January 2026
9:00-10:30 Paper Session 3
Break
10:45-12:15 – Paper session 4
12:15-13:00 Lunch + concluding remarks.

Language: English

ECTS: 1.5 ECTS for participation (including preparation) / 3.0 ECTS for participation (including preparation) and paper presentation.

Max. numbers of participants: 12

Paper deadline: 6 January 2026.

Registration: Please register for participation by submitting a 1-page project description and a shot CV by email to erik....@abe.kth.se no later than 1 November 2025. 

Literature: Around 260 pages (TBA)

All the best,

Sebastian