Wenzheng Fang

Wenzheng is a history PhD student at the University of Notre Dame who studies the environmental history of modern America and the world. He is interested in the history of ecological thoughts, animal history, environmental management states, paleontology, and films.

After getting a B.A in Communications, Wenzheng turned to history and received an M.A in World History from Renmin University in Beijing. He also worked in the Center for Ecological History at Renmin.  His master thesis studies how a resurgence of dinosaur paleontology in the late 20th century reflected and initiated changes in people’s perceptions of their relationship with nature, and their awareness of an ongoing ecological crisis in a world of vulnerability.

At Notre Dame, Wenzheng hopes to continue his research on how people’s understanding of nature evolved. He is now exploring the history of invasive species, and the American efforts to recognize and eradicate them.