Irina Podgorny

About the Author

Irina Podgorny is a distinguished historian whose scholarship illuminates the intricate relationships between human societies and the natural world during the long eighteenth century. Her research delves into the emergence of natural history as both a scientific discipline and a cultural practice, revealing how knowledge about nature was produced, circulated, and transformed across continents. With a keen eye for archival detail and a nuanced understanding of global entanglements, she explores the ways in which territories, peoples, and environments were connected through exploration, trade, and scientific inquiry. Her work bridges the histories of science, empire, and ecology, offering fresh perspectives on how early modern encounters shaped contemporary understandings of nature and place.