Ben Mechen

Dr Ben Mechen is a Lecturer (Teaching) in Modern British History at University College London (UCL), Department of History. He holds a PhD, MA, and BA in History from UCL. His research focuses on social and cultural histories of modern Britain, particularly gender, sex, sexuality, and environmental history. His work critiques the paradoxes of sexual liberalism in the late 20th century and explores ecological thought through everyday practices.

Ben has held academic roles at King’s College London, University of Bristol, Royal Holloway, and University of Birmingham. He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His recent projects include an environmental history of the European timber trade and a monograph on late 20th-century ecological experiments rooted in queer, feminist, and anarchist thought.

Teaching includes modules like 'Empire and its Afterlives in Britain since 1940' and 'Thinking Postcolonially: Race and Empire in Twentieth Century Britain.' He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining posthumanist theory with historical analysis.

His publications span articles in Contemporary British History and edited volumes such as Men and Masculinities in Modern Britain, which ranks among Manchester University Press’s top Open Access titles. His work bridges historical critique with contemporary relevance, addressing themes of gender, ecology, and cultural change.