Paper short abstract:

In my contribution I will present my doctoral thesis on Nordenskiöld as an example of the multidisciplinary field of environmental biography. I will discuss how I combined environmental history, economic history, the history of ideas and ethnology, the history of science and some other topics.

Paper long abstract:

Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (1832–1901), a Finnish born Swedish scientist and explorer, was an environmentally literate person before the concept of environmental literacy was formulated in the 1960s. During his Arctic expeditions, between and 1883, he encountered destructive changes in nature that made him aware of the vulnerability of the environment. His environmental literacy guided him to take appropriate action to maintain, restore and improve the health of systems in nature.

Nordenskiöld expressed his own observations and experiences in his writings. His ideas also included aspects of the modernization process, some patriotic ideas from the Romantic era, and a strong dose of American influence. He influenced his fellow citizens by publishing his opinions. He made people realize and confront the threats he himself had witnessed. His concern for environmental problems was something new in Europe at the time. Many members of his social network shared his concern and continued his conservational legacy. Nordenskiöld was an important link in the chain of the history of conservation.

In my contribution I will present my doctoral thesis on Nordenskiöld as an example of the multidisciplinary field of environmental biography. I will discuss how I combined environmental history, economic history, the history of ideas and ethnology, the history of science and some other topics.

Nordenskiöld’s example helps us to understand the important role of every individual in the history of the environment: the fact that everybody has an impact on history and on the environment.