Wai Chee Dimock

Wai Chee Dimock is the William Lampson Professor of English and American Studies at Yale University, where she has established herself as a leading scholar in American literature, world literature, and environmental humanities. She is currently working at Harvard's Center for the Environment on a new book titled "Microbes and AI: Surviving Pandemics and Climate Change with Nonhuman Intelligence." Her academic journey began with a B.A. from Harvard University in 1976 and continued with a Ph.D. from Yale University in 1982.

Dimock's research focuses on the symbiotic relationship between humans and nonhumans, particularly in the contexts of public health, climate change, and Indigenous communities. Her work bridges literary studies with environmental science, technology studies, and public policy, creating innovative approaches to understanding how literature can address global challenges. She has pioneered the concept of "deep time" in literary studies, examining how American literature connects across centuries and continents. Her influential books, including "Weak Planet" (2020), "Through Other Continents" (2006), and "Shades of the Planet" (2007), have reshaped conversations about American literature in global contexts.

Her recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward interdisciplinary approaches that connect literature with pressing contemporary issues. Dimock has written extensively about the intersection of AI and environmental challenges, exploring how nonhuman intelligence might help address climate change and pandemics. Her work on Indigenous knowledge systems and biodiversity conservation demonstrates her commitment to integrating diverse epistemologies in addressing ecological crises. The recurring theme across her scholarship is the exploration of alternative models of survival and coexistence in an increasingly fragile world.

As editor of PMLA (Publications of the Modern Language Association of America), Dimock has shaped scholarly conversations through numerous editor's columns addressing timely topics from pandemic responses to climate literature. Her teaching extends beyond traditional classroom settings, with her lecture course "Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner" available through Open Yale Courses. She has also consulted for the PBS series "Invitation to World Literature," demonstrating her commitment to public humanities and making scholarly work accessible to broader audiences.