Botanical Imaginations: Jim Endersby on Biotopia, American Imperialism, and Science

Botanical Imaginations: Jim Endersby on Biotopia, American Imperialism, and Science

Author: The Center for Culture, History, and Environment (CHE) June 11, 2026 Duration: 51:40

Rebecca Laurent talks with Jim Endersby about his new book: The Arrival of the Fittest: Biology's Imaginary Futures, 1900-1935. They discuss how a failed scientific theory inspired public optimism for science, plants, and American imperialism.

The post Biotopia, American Imperialism, and Science: A Conversation with Jim Endersby appeared first on Edge Effects.


From the Center for Culture, History, and Environment, Edge Effects is a podcast that explores the complex spaces where nature and human society meet. Each episode delves into stories from environmental history, cultural studies, and the sciences, offering nuanced perspectives on the pressing ecological questions of our time. You’ll hear from scholars, artists, and activists who examine life in these transitional zones-the literal and metaphorical edges where change is constant and understanding is multifaceted. This isn’t a series of lectures, but a collection of conversations and narrated essays that feel both urgent and contemplative. The audio magazine format allows for deep dives into specific places, species, or ideas, connecting them to broader themes of justice, memory, and survival. Listening to this podcast feels like being guided through a landscape of ideas, where the past informs the present and multiple ways of knowing intersect. It’s for anyone curious about the layered relationships between people and the planet, presented with academic rigor and accessible storytelling. The Edge Effects podcast consistently challenges simple narratives, inviting listeners to sit with complexity and find meaning at the intersection of ecology and culture.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Edge Effects
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