Jonathan E. Robins

Contact

Recent Publications

Recent Funding

University of Connecticut Humanities Institute visiting fellow (2018-2019)
American Philosophical Society-British Academy Joint Fellow (2018)
Cornell College of Human Ecology Dean's Fellowship (2016)
Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning Blended Learning Grant: "Global Issues Blended Learning Initiative" (January 2015), with Don LaFreniere.

Presentations

“Suited to Malaya? Origins of the Oil Palm Industry in Colonial Malaysia.” American Society for Environmental History conference, Riverside, CA, March 2018.
“Nucleus Estates and Pioneer Mills: Models for Development in the Oil Palm Industry.” African Studies Association conference, Chicago, November 2017.
“Capitalists, smallholders, and states on the oil palm frontier.” Global Commodity Frontiers in Comparative Historical Context workshop, Commodities of Empire British Academy Research Project (Institute of Latin American Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London and the Institute of the Americas, University College), and the international ‘Commodity Frontiers’ research initiative (International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam, the University of Ghent, and Harvard University). London, December 2016.

Research Projects

Oil palm in the 20th century: this project builds on my recent book, Oil Palm: a Global History. It will explore USAID and other US government support for oil palm in Latin America and beyond, and compare successful models for oil palm development globally.
Swamp, trees, and peat soils: a new project examining small- and large-scale exploitation of wetland tree spaces and peatlands.

Courses taught