Doctoral Dissertation Research: Three Case Studies of Natural Disasters

概述esta STS博士论文改进资助支持档案研究调查在荷兰发生的一系列自然灾害；欧洲历史上最致命的洪水之一（圣诞节洪水），牛瘟的流行破坏了农业的稳定，入侵的软体动物的到来危及了整个荷兰的海岸防御系统。迄今为止，历史研究主要是个案研究，强调个别事件对当地和直接的经济影响。这些研究假定与这些事件没有关系，并对它们在荷兰水利工程和医学发展中的作用提供有限的评价。因此，这些事件的影响在很大程度上仍然是地方性的，没有得到充分认识。这项研究将表明，这些灾难具有深远的经济、文化和环境影响。该奖项将支持两次前往荷兰的档案研究之旅，收集和分析与提案的历史和空间维度有关的文件，并为会议旅行提供资金，以传播结果。提出的项目认为，这些事件构成了荷兰历史上独特的灾难时期，对荷兰的社会、文化和环境产生了重大影响。它认为这些看似单一的灾难是协同联系的，最终影响了荷兰人的适应能力，导致了荷兰对水防的大规模重新设计和对抗疾病的新方法。本研究以历史灾害研究、气候变化研究和欧洲历史地理学的方法为基础；该研究人员受过环境史方面的培训，并有教授全球环境研究的经验。最终的作品将论证这些灾难促使了荷兰自然环境的重新排序，理解风险和灾难的文化基础，以及科学和技术在荷兰社会中的地位。更广泛的影响通过解决风险的文化建构和工程创新的社会历史因素等问题，该项目可能在风险和危害研究以及科技史上具有更广泛的意义；它可以提供与讨论当前自然灾害有关的信息。此外，该项目将为国际教育提供机会，并展示跨文化理解的价值，也许荷兰和美国学者之间的合作将达到高潮。气候变化的社会文化经验在全球范围内是可变的，这可能导致两国学生之间进行有趣和具有挑衅性的讨论。虽然洪水、入侵物种和疾病在这两个地区都很常见，但它们对文化的影响非常不同，并产生不同的反应。弥合这种环境意识上的差距是本提案的目标之一。

OverviewThis STS Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant supports archival research to investigate a series of natural disasters that occurred in the Netherlands; one the deadliest floods in European history (the Christmas Flood), rinderpest epidemics that destabilized agriculture, and the arrival of invasive mollusks that jeopardized the entire Dutch coastal defense system. Historical studies thus far consist of case studies highlighting the local and immediate economic effects of individual events. These studies posit no relational connections to these events and offer limited evaluations of their role in the development of Dutch hydro-engineering and medicine. As a result, the impact of these events remains largely provincial and under appreciated. This study will show that these disasters had profound economic, cultural, and environmental implications. The award will support two archival research trips to the Netherlands for collection and analysis of documents pertaining to the historical and spatial dimensions of the proposal plus funding for conference travel to disseminate the results.Intellectual MeritThe proposed project contends that these events constituted a unique disaster period in Dutch history with significant implications for Dutch society, culture, and environment. It conceives of these seemingly singular disasters as a synergistically connected and ultimately affecting Dutch adaptation resulting in a massive redesign of Dutch water defense and new methods of combating disease. This study is grounded in the methods of historical disaster studies, climate change research, and European historical geography; the researcher has training in environmental history and experience teaching global environmental studies. The final product will argue that these disasters prompted a reordering of the Dutch physical environment, the cultural rationale for understanding risk and calamity, and the place of science and technology in Dutch society. Broader ImpactsBy tackling issues like the cultural construction of risk and the socio-historical elements of innovation in engineering, the project may have broader significance in risk and hazard research and the history of science and technology; it may provide information relevant to discussions of current natural disasters. In addition, the project will provide opportunities for international education and show the value of cross-cultural understanding, perhaps culminating in a partnership between Dutch and American scholars. The socio-cultural experience of climate change is globally variable which could lead to interesting and provocative discussions between students in the two countries. Whereas flooding, invasive species, and disease are common to both areas, they have very different impacts on culture and engender different responses. Bridging this gap in environmental awareness is one goal of this proposal.