Lisa Ruth Rand

Lisa Ruth Rand is a Research Assistant Professor of History at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), affiliated with the Research Institute for the History of Science and Technology at Caltech and The Huntington (RIHST). Her work focuses on the history of technology, environmental history, science, and gender/sexuality studies. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College (2005), an M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania (2011), and a Ph.D. (2016). Current roles include Assistant Professor at Caltech (2021–25) and Hurt Scholar (2022–25).

Her research examines the environmental and technological impacts of space exploration, particularly focusing on space debris and orbital decay. She is completing a book on the environmental history of outer space, analyzing how human and non-human forces shape disuse and disorder in Earth's orbit. Notable publications include Space Junk: A History of Waste in Orbit (forthcoming) and articles on queer studies in space histories, international space policy, and Cold War techno-diplomacy.

• Education:
  • B.A., Barnard College, 2005
  • M.A., University of Pennsylvania, 2011
  • Ph.D., 2016 (institution unspecified)

Rand’s work integrates interdisciplinary perspectives, blending environmental humanities with histories of science and technology. Her research highlights how space exploration intersects with ecological, political, and gendered systems. She has contributed to policy debates on orbital sustainability and has been featured in The Washington Post and academic journals such as Environmental History. As a Hurt Scholar, her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary technological challenges.

Awards:

• Hurt Scholar (2022–2025)

Labs/Teams: Active in the RIHST, collaborating on projects linking space history with environmental and technological studies.