Daniel Macfarlane

Dr. Daniel Macfarlane is an Associate Professor in the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability at Western Michigan University, specializing in environmental history, political ecology, and historical geography. He holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Ottawa (2011). His research focuses on North American water policy, Canada-US environmental relations, and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin, with notable works including The Lives of Lake Ontario (2024) and Natural Allies (2023). He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History and an Affiliate at Carleton University’s Global Water Institute.

Teaching includes courses on water policy, climate change, and the Flint Water Crisis. His interdisciplinary approach integrates digital humanities tools like GIS mapping. Awards include the 2024 Canadian Historical Association Book Prize for Natural Allies. Current projects include a Lake Michigan environmental history and a transborder Great Lakes series. Media engagements include The Conversation, National Geographic, and TVO’s The Agenda.

Key affiliations: WMU Center for Secure Energy Technology, L.R. Wilson Institute for Canadian History, and NiCHE blog editor. Research emphasizes climate adaptation, historical water governance, and the intersection of technology and nature in borderland environments.