David Vail
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davidvailphd.bsky.social
David Vail
@davidvailphd.bsky.social
Historian of Environment, Agriculture, Science, Medicine. New Project: Vulnerable Harvests: Emergency Conservation in the Cold War Great Plains (Nebraska Press). My posts and views are my own.
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"We cannot understand the problems that concern us in this, our particular moment of time, unless we first understand our environment and the forces that have made us what we are, physically and mentally."
-- Rachel Carson, Introduction in "Good Reading," 1956.
#envhist #envhum #histsci
One of my life hopes since childhood was to see the northern lights in person. Tonight they found me.
November 12, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Reposted by David Vail
Apply now for a free week-long PhD course on Energy Humanities organized by the Greenhouse and the project Energy Lives! project run by @melinabuns.bsky.social

Takes place in Stavanger, Norway, 1-5 December 2025

www.uis.no/en/research/...

#envhum #envhist #energy
Apply for PhD Course on Energy Humanities
5 ECTS PhD course ‘Themes within Environmental Humanities’ to be held in Stavanger, 1-5 December 2025. This year’s thematic focus is the developing field of the Energy Humanities.
www.uis.no
October 15, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Humanities are the heart. We must protect and promote them. They are not dispensable. From 2013:
The Heart of the Matter
This is "The Heart of the Matter" by americanacad on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
vimeo.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Take Note. Please support your local humanities council however you can. This is urgent. Humanities are essential to you, me, and us.
White House fires much of the National Council on the Humanities
The White House appeared to fire all but four members of the National Council on the Humanities, an advisory board to the head of the government’s grantmaking agency.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I will be speaking at this NDSU Libraries event on research based on my current monograph project as well as a new project inspired by what I found in NDSU Archives during the trip. Honored for this support from the Gunlogson Award and to join other scholars in this celebration.
September 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
"We cannot understand the problems that concern us in this, our particular moment of time, unless we first understand our environment and the forces that have made us what we are, physically and mentally."
-- Rachel Carson, Introduction in "Good Reading," 1956.
#envhist #envhum #histsci
September 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM
I'm beyond honored to receive the University of Nebraska at Kearney's Pratt-Heins Award for Teaching.

I dedicate this award to our students. You give me hope and perspective. I'm less without you. I'll be here for each of you, every step.
UNK faculty members honored for their excellence in teaching, service and scholarship - UNK NEWS
Anthony Donofrio, Amy Nebesniak, David Vail and Whitney Schneider-Cline received awards.
unknews.unk.edu
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Humanities helps us find love in this moment of no love.
August 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by David Vail
Really excited to get a copy of this book which I think is the first in our series on Environment, Health & Wellbeing at Michigan State University Press. Great mix of chapters from academics & activists. More info here: msupress.org/978161186528...
August 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
August 7, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Farewell Fargo, but I'll be back! Had one of the most productive and delightful research trips this week. Many thanks to Tom Isern and Suzzanne Kelley for their hospitality and kindness throughout. I'm so grateful for Institute for Regional Studies research support. #Ndsu #envhist #envhum #histsci
July 26, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Excited to continue my adventures in the NDSU Archives today! The Institute for Regional Studies collections and archival records have revealed much. And I got to use this cool "Light Box" to look at slides of early postwar contour farming and shelterbelts! #envhist #envhum #histsci #Ndsu
July 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I will be spending the week researching at NDSU Archives thanks to the Institute for Regional Studies Gunlogson Fund support for the Vulnerable Harvests manuscript. Today, I found some epic singletrack at the Lions Conservancy Nature Park.
#envhist #envhum #histsci
July 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
1st stop in last round of research for the Vulnerable Harvests manuscript!
#envhist #envhum #histsci
July 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by David Vail
Streetcar with bicycle racks, 1898
July 3, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Turkey on a bridge for the AM ride
July 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by David Vail
Important news for the #envhist crowd: We are hiring an Associate Professor of Environmental History!

www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...

Application deadline is August 7.

Some tips for those interested from abroad in thread 👇
Associate Professor in Environmental History (281801) | University of Stavanger
Job title: Associate Professor in Environmental History (281801), Employer: University of Stavanger, Deadline: Thursday, August 7, 2025
www.jobbnorge.no
June 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Never hold back love and kindness. People need to know more than you know.
June 25, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Had to adventure out on this nice summer day with Rowdy. New tires are lightning fast (for an MTB). Dr. Crash Mode Activated!
June 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM