Dr. Elaine Ayers

Biography

Elaine Ayers works on the history of natural history, colonial violence, and collecting in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She holds a Ph.D. in History of Science from Princeton University and has previously taught in New York University’s Program in Museum Studies, NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, and at Brown University’s Program in Science, Technology, and Society. Elaine teaches classes that situate the arts and sciences and consults for museums and botanical gardens around the world, particularly focusing on repatriation efforts. Her classes typically include hands-on work such as scientific illustration, microscopic dissection, and glassblowing. Her book projects explore the history of tropical colonial botany and the cultural politics surrounding it, including intersections with white supremacy and the history of collecting. In addition, Elaine writes public-facing publications for outlets like Slate, Public Domain Review, and Cabinet Magazine. Her work has received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Yale Center for British Art.

Research Interests