Research Interests: History of environmental monitoring; legal assimilation of biological and environmental data; history of 20th century biology; scientific collaborations between New Zealand and the United States; history of environmental, biological, and meteorological IGOs and cooperative ventures; history of ecology/phenology; history of wildlife conservation and animal welfare; history of carbon dioxide measurement.

Ashton Macfarlane is a PhD candidate in the History of Science Department, where his research focuses on the history of environmental science and law in the 20^th century. Ashton is in Harvard's Coordinated JD/PhD program, having graduated from Harvard Law School with a JD degree in May of 2023.

He is particularly interested in environmental monitoring efforts, biological narratives of climate change, and the evolution of data-intensive environmental litigation. He has previously worked on the history of phenology—or the study of biological time—and its use as a climate change indicator in the 20^th century. Current projects include the history of the United States Clean Air Act, New Zealand-United States collaboration in carbon dioxide monitoring during the late-1960s and 1970s, and the 20^th century development of biological and non-biological techniques for tracking global change.

Previous Degrees: 
AB., Integrative Biology, History of Science, Harvard University 

JD, Harvard Law School