Angelo Caglioti

Angelo Caglioti is an Assistant Professor of History at Barnard College, where he joined the Department of History in 2020. His scholarship bridges environmental history, history of science, and late modern European history with concentrated focus on 19th-20th century Italy, particularly Italian Fascism and colonial ventures in North and East Africa.

Education:

• PhD in History with Designated Emphasis in Science and Technology Studies, University of California, Berkeley (2017)
• MA in History, University of California, Berkeley (2013)
• Laurea Specialistica (MA equivalent) in Historical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (2011)
• Laurea Triennale (BA) in History, University of Padova, Italy (2009)

Professor Caglioti's research excavates the environmental foundations of European imperialism, revealing how climate science, water management, and racial theories served Italian colonial ambitions in Africa. His work on Fascist-era meteorology demonstrates how "climate crisis" narratives originated in colonial contexts, while studies of eugenics trace scientific racism from Lombroso to Mussolini. This interdisciplinary approach positions environmental factors as central to understanding Fascist imperialism's mechanics and legacies.

His recent publications (2024-2011) show consistent engagement with colonial environmental engineering—from 19th-century irrigation projects in Eritrea to Fascist climate modeling. Articles in Past & Present and European History Quarterly establish how "natural disasters" were weaponized in settler colonialism, while his eugenics research exposes statistical methodologies underpinning racial science. This body of work forms the foundation for his book manuscript on Fascism's environmental dimensions.

Key Awards:

• Rome Prize in Modern Italian Studies (American Academy in Rome)
• History of Science Fellowships (American Meteorological Society & American Geophysical Union)
• Multiple Rachel Carson Center Fellowships
• UC Berkeley Institute of European Studies Dissertation Fellowship
• Social Science Research Council Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship

Professor Caglioti's research is supported by prestigious fellowships including the Rome Prize and Carson Center appointments, enabling his book project on Fascist colonial environmentalism. While specific advising numbers aren't public, his seminar courses on colonial science and water histories provide direct mentorship pathways for students interested in environmental humanities. His transnational affiliations with European research institutes facilitate international collaboration opportunities for advanced students.