Mirjam Voerkelius

Dr. Mirjam Voerkelius serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), specializing in European history with emphases on Soviet history, science, and environmental studies. Her research bridges historical analysis of ideological frameworks with evolving conceptions of humanity's relationship to nature.

Education:

• Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley

Voerkelius investigates how Soviet researchers reconciled Darwinian evolution with revolutionary ideology through archival work at the Moscow State Darwin Museum, drawing on materials from Russia, the U.S., and Germany. Her scholarship extends to environmental history, museum studies, and emerging interests in equine history and Soviet-era babushki roles. She examines historical conceptualizations of nature-society dynamics within 20th-century scientific and political contexts.

Scientific Awards:

• Kluge Fellowship from the Library of Congress (2022-2023)

At UMBC, Voerkelius teaches courses on Russian/Soviet history, environmental history, history of science, and museum studies from her office in the Fine Arts Building. Her current book project analyzes the ideological negotiation of evolutionary theory within Soviet scientific institutions, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary historical approaches connecting science, environment, and political ideology.