Jonathan Robins
@robinshistory.bsky.social
Historian of commodities, environments, and colonialism. Author of Oil Palm: a Global History. Currently into kapok and other unusual fibers, fungi, northern forests, aluminum, and landfills
🤨 when the transcript says "... Joke outside the record." (It's "the story of the Australian farmer", 1975. From the Aluminum Workers International Union Biennial Convention transcript; almost every speaker inthe '75, '77 and '79 meetings felt obliged to include an anecdote-style joke)
November 20, 2025 at 6:18 PM
🤨 when the transcript says "... Joke outside the record." (It's "the story of the Australian farmer", 1975. From the Aluminum Workers International Union Biennial Convention transcript; almost every speaker inthe '75, '77 and '79 meetings felt obliged to include an anecdote-style joke)
Thanks to @nichecanada.bsky.social for running this piece, which has been stetwing for a while. It's part of a larger project exploring how plastic got out of the factory and into the craft and DIY universe.
Today @robinshistory.bsky.social's DIY wooden canoe project reveals deeper truths about plastic, sustainability, masculinity, and the contradictions of modern maker culture, in "Crafting the Plasticene."
niche-canada.org/2025/08/07/c...
#makerculture #canoes #plastics #envhist
niche-canada.org/2025/08/07/c...
#makerculture #canoes #plastics #envhist
Crafting the Plasticene
Robins' DIY wooden canoe project reveals deeper truths about plastic, sustainability, masculinity, and the contradictions of modern maker culture.
niche-canada.org
August 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Thanks to @nichecanada.bsky.social for running this piece, which has been stetwing for a while. It's part of a larger project exploring how plastic got out of the factory and into the craft and DIY universe.
Reposted by Jonathan Robins
Today @robinshistory.bsky.social's DIY wooden canoe project reveals deeper truths about plastic, sustainability, masculinity, and the contradictions of modern maker culture, in "Crafting the Plasticene."
niche-canada.org/2025/08/07/c...
#makerculture #canoes #plastics #envhist
niche-canada.org/2025/08/07/c...
#makerculture #canoes #plastics #envhist
Crafting the Plasticene
Robins' DIY wooden canoe project reveals deeper truths about plastic, sustainability, masculinity, and the contradictions of modern maker culture.
niche-canada.org
August 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Today @robinshistory.bsky.social's DIY wooden canoe project reveals deeper truths about plastic, sustainability, masculinity, and the contradictions of modern maker culture, in "Crafting the Plasticene."
niche-canada.org/2025/08/07/c...
#makerculture #canoes #plastics #envhist
niche-canada.org/2025/08/07/c...
#makerculture #canoes #plastics #envhist
Reposted by Jonathan Robins
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 👇
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
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 👇
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Application deadline is August 7.
Some tips for those interested from abroad in thread 👇
I keep trying to humor colleagues who say they are using LLMs across their research programs. Meanwhile, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity all failed to be honest in a simple OCR task. ("held", which is a typo in this transcript, is always presented as "head.")
May 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I keep trying to humor colleagues who say they are using LLMs across their research programs. Meanwhile, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity all failed to be honest in a simple OCR task. ("held", which is a typo in this transcript, is always presented as "head.")
Glad to see Gastropod tackling "seed oils," but this episode could have used a food historian. B. napus oil is a staple in some Chinese cuisines! People all over the world have been eating flax, cotton, sesame, sunflower, mustard and other "seed oils" for millenia. gastropod.com/seed-oil-sca...
Seed Oil Scare: The Curious Case of Canola - Gastropod
What's the deal with canola. Listen in for the science and history of this former engine lubricant turned social media scare story.
gastropod.com
April 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Glad to see Gastropod tackling "seed oils," but this episode could have used a food historian. B. napus oil is a staple in some Chinese cuisines! People all over the world have been eating flax, cotton, sesame, sunflower, mustard and other "seed oils" for millenia. gastropod.com/seed-oil-sca...
The lost art of the hand drawn chart (Owen, Prosperity without progress, 1984). I feel like all the new data viz tools are making charts worse, not better...
February 27, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The lost art of the hand drawn chart (Owen, Prosperity without progress, 1984). I feel like all the new data viz tools are making charts worse, not better...
Reposted by Jonathan Robins
I am very pleased to share that Michigan Technological University is hosting a virtual career fair for job seekers in Cultural Resources Management ( #CRM ) and allied fields in the heritage sector! 1/x
mtu.joinhandshake.com/stu/career_f...
mtu.joinhandshake.com/stu/career_f...
Sign In | Handshake
mtu.joinhandshake.com
February 23, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I am very pleased to share that Michigan Technological University is hosting a virtual career fair for job seekers in Cultural Resources Management ( #CRM ) and allied fields in the heritage sector! 1/x
mtu.joinhandshake.com/stu/career_f...
mtu.joinhandshake.com/stu/career_f...
World History Association members: look for a membership-wide vote on a resolution opposing scholasticide in Gaza later today. Add to the pressure on the AHA's leadership. members.thewha.org/general/cust...
Resolution Opposing Scholasticide in Gaza - World History Association
On January 30, 2025, the World History Association Officers and Council considered and affirmed a Resolution to Oppose Scholasticide in Gaza (full text below). The resolution responds to the dire situation facing the teaching, learning, and documentation of history in Gaza; the veto of a similar resolution by the American Historical Association Council in January 2025, and the mission of the World History Association to promote activities which will increase historical awareness, understanding among and between peoples and global consciousness. Strictly following WHA procedure, we now submit the resolution to a vote of the entire membership of the Association. If approved by a majority of the members voting, the resolution is affirmed as a measure of the WHA. Current members of the WHA received an email with login instructions to participate in the vote via ElectionRunner, the same secure election software that we use for our annual officer elections. The election will be open from February 18 - 25, 2025.
members.thewha.org
February 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
World History Association members: look for a membership-wide vote on a resolution opposing scholasticide in Gaza later today. Add to the pressure on the AHA's leadership. members.thewha.org/general/cust...
Reposted by Jonathan Robins
@historians.org is an utter disgrace. An undemocratic betrayal of its members voices. An organization that does nothing to defend our Palestinian colleagues from murder and scholasticide will do nothing to defend out profession from domestic opponents. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Historians' council vetoes Gaza scholasticide condemnation
American Historical Association convention-goers overwhelmingly passed the statement on Jan. 5, but the group’s top elected body has vetoed it without letting all AHA members vote.
www.insidehighered.com
January 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
@historians.org is an utter disgrace. An undemocratic betrayal of its members voices. An organization that does nothing to defend our Palestinian colleagues from murder and scholasticide will do nothing to defend out profession from domestic opponents. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
I want to see the minutes or a recording of this meeting. The resolution specifically addressed the AHA's mission in clear and direct ways. Members deserve a detailed response if leadership is so confident the proposal is incompatible with the AHA mission. Time to quit, or pack the nominating comte?
After careful deliberation and consideration, the AHA Council has vetoed the "Resolution to Oppose Scholasticide in Gaza" presented at the 2025 business meeting.
Business Meeting Resolution Update - AHA
Update as of January 17, 2025: The AHA Council deplores any intentional destruction of Palestinian educational institutions, libraries, universities, and archives in Gaza. The Council considers the “R...
www.historians.org
January 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I want to see the minutes or a recording of this meeting. The resolution specifically addressed the AHA's mission in clear and direct ways. Members deserve a detailed response if leadership is so confident the proposal is incompatible with the AHA mission. Time to quit, or pack the nominating comte?
looked up the release date (1993), now feel ancient.
December 12, 2024 at 4:25 PM
looked up the release date (1993), now feel ancient.
Reposted by Jonathan Robins
Unexpectedly, I have two Greenhouse #envhum book talk slots still open this year: December 2nd and 9th.
If you had a relevant monograph published in 2023 or 2024 and could talk to us at 4pm Central European time (3pm in UK, 10am East Coast, etc.), let me know and we'll schedule you in!
If you had a relevant monograph published in 2023 or 2024 and could talk to us at 4pm Central European time (3pm in UK, 10am East Coast, etc.), let me know and we'll schedule you in!
November 11, 2024 at 2:42 PM
Unexpectedly, I have two Greenhouse #envhum book talk slots still open this year: December 2nd and 9th.
If you had a relevant monograph published in 2023 or 2024 and could talk to us at 4pm Central European time (3pm in UK, 10am East Coast, etc.), let me know and we'll schedule you in!
If you had a relevant monograph published in 2023 or 2024 and could talk to us at 4pm Central European time (3pm in UK, 10am East Coast, etc.), let me know and we'll schedule you in!
Got the collector item of the year
November 5, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Got the collector item of the year
Collecting specimens (Asclepius syriaca I think?)
October 30, 2024 at 5:20 PM
Collecting specimens (Asclepius syriaca I think?)
Reposted by Jonathan Robins
#WorldFoodDay
"Chaga’s entry into the pantheon of superfoods ... came out of a relatively recent meeting of traditional knowledge and western biomedicine, accelerated by the Internet and a heady mix of bad history." - @robinshistory.bsky.social
niche-canada.org/2023/09/07/p...
"Chaga’s entry into the pantheon of superfoods ... came out of a relatively recent meeting of traditional knowledge and western biomedicine, accelerated by the Internet and a heady mix of bad history." - @robinshistory.bsky.social
niche-canada.org/2023/09/07/p...
Picking Stories, Selling Chaga: How History Helped Make Chaga a Superfood
Jonathan Robins investigates how history has been adapted to market chaga as a popular superfood.
niche-canada.org
October 16, 2024 at 7:34 PM
#WorldFoodDay
"Chaga’s entry into the pantheon of superfoods ... came out of a relatively recent meeting of traditional knowledge and western biomedicine, accelerated by the Internet and a heady mix of bad history." - @robinshistory.bsky.social
niche-canada.org/2023/09/07/p...
"Chaga’s entry into the pantheon of superfoods ... came out of a relatively recent meeting of traditional knowledge and western biomedicine, accelerated by the Internet and a heady mix of bad history." - @robinshistory.bsky.social
niche-canada.org/2023/09/07/p...
Job alert: Social Sciences at MTU seeks a new chair for an interdisciplinary department (including historians, sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, political scientists, policy scientists)
www.employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job...
www.employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job...
Details - Department Chair, Social Sciences
www.employment.mtu.edu
October 14, 2024 at 3:58 PM
Job alert: Social Sciences at MTU seeks a new chair for an interdisciplinary department (including historians, sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, political scientists, policy scientists)
www.employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job...
www.employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job...
I'm hoping to find a collaborator in #egyptology for a paper who can weigh in on whether the hieroglyphs in this ad are a bunch of nonsense (or not?). Message me for details!
October 11, 2024 at 3:54 PM
I'm hoping to find a collaborator in #egyptology for a paper who can weigh in on whether the hieroglyphs in this ad are a bunch of nonsense (or not?). Message me for details!
Reposted by Jonathan Robins
Sharks and Boletes and Sustainable Capitalism, oh my!
Check out the awesome collection of new (ish) books available to review for H-Environment #envhist #envhum #aghist #conservation #Sustainability #animalhist #ecocrit #envtech #envjustice #planthist
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Check out the awesome collection of new (ish) books available to review for H-Environment #envhist #envhum #aghist #conservation #Sustainability #animalhist #ecocrit #envtech #envjustice #planthist
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Books Available to review for H-Environment
Books Available for Review for H-Environment Below are the books currently available for review for H-Environment. Interested in reviewing one? Please email me at [email protected] for DM me at @farso...
docs.google.com
October 10, 2024 at 4:16 PM
Sharks and Boletes and Sustainable Capitalism, oh my!
Check out the awesome collection of new (ish) books available to review for H-Environment #envhist #envhum #aghist #conservation #Sustainability #animalhist #ecocrit #envtech #envjustice #planthist
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Check out the awesome collection of new (ish) books available to review for H-Environment #envhist #envhum #aghist #conservation #Sustainability #animalhist #ecocrit #envtech #envjustice #planthist
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
#CFP closing October 15: submit proposals for panels, roundtables, individual papers, posters, and films for the Agricultural History Society annual conference www.aghistorysociety.org/2025-meeting...
2025 Meeting CFP — Agricultural History Society
Annual Meeting in St. Paul, MN
www.aghistorysociety.org
October 9, 2024 at 12:29 PM
#CFP closing October 15: submit proposals for panels, roundtables, individual papers, posters, and films for the Agricultural History Society annual conference www.aghistorysociety.org/2025-meeting...
Surely there is a dissertation somewhere in here (digital.hagley.org/MSS_2407_048...) (the report asks "what have been the attitudes of men toward their hair in other periods of history and what can learn from this?")
October 2, 2024 at 6:07 PM
Surely there is a dissertation somewhere in here (digital.hagley.org/MSS_2407_048...) (the report asks "what have been the attitudes of men toward their hair in other periods of history and what can learn from this?")
Reposted by Jonathan Robins
New from 404 Media: Google is serving AI images of mushrooms when users search for some species. Very risky, potentially fatal error for foragers who are trying to find what mushrooms are safe to eat. Could have "devastating consequences" one expert said www.404media.co/google-serve...
Google Serving AI-Generated Images of Mushrooms Could Have 'Devastating Consequences'
AI-generated images of mushrooms that look nothing like the real species could spread misleading and dangerous information.
www.404media.co
September 24, 2024 at 1:13 PM
New from 404 Media: Google is serving AI images of mushrooms when users search for some species. Very risky, potentially fatal error for foragers who are trying to find what mushrooms are safe to eat. Could have "devastating consequences" one expert said www.404media.co/google-serve...
Have any #foodhistory folks taught an undergrad class with significant cooking/food demo/food sharing components? Are there ways to minimize administrative headaches and regulatory issues when preparing or handling food in a classroom?
September 23, 2024 at 5:04 PM
Have any #foodhistory folks taught an undergrad class with significant cooking/food demo/food sharing components? Are there ways to minimize administrative headaches and regulatory issues when preparing or handling food in a classroom?
