Ryan Tucker Jones

Ryan Tucker Jones is Professor and Department Head of History at the University of Oregon's Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages. His work bridges Russian, Pacific, and environmental history with a focus on maritime ecosystems and human-animal relationships. Current research examines Soviet whaling operations, Arctic environmental change, and Pacific Ocean histories.

His educational background includes a PhD in history from Columbia University. Key publications include Empire of Extinction: Russians and the Strange Beasts of the Sea (Oxford, 2014) and Red Leviathan: The Soviet Union and the Secret Destruction of the World's Whales (University of Chicago Press, 2022), which was shortlisted for the Pushkin House Book Prize.

Professor Jones specializes in global environmental history with particular expertise in Russian and Pacific maritime worlds. His research analyzes how human activities—from whaling to Arctic colonization—have transformed marine ecosystems across centuries. Current projects examine seasonal patterns in Siberian environmental history, transpacific ecological exchanges, and the historical roots of contemporary climate challenges in northern regions. His work combines archival research with interdisciplinary approaches to environmental change.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on Pacific Ocean history, Soviet environmental practices, and marine conservation. Key themes include industrial whaling impacts, Arctic resource politics, and cross-cultural ecological knowledge. The 2025 Cambridge History of the Pacific Ocean represents a major collaborative effort synthesizing decades of research on oceanic environmental history.

• Pushkin House Book Prize (shortlisted for Red Leviathan, 2022)

Professor Jones actively mentors graduate students in global environmental history, Russian history, Pacific history, and Alaskan history. His research has received support from major academic presses and collaborative history projects. Current advising focuses on maritime environmental histories and Soviet ecological practices. He participates in interdisciplinary environmental history initiatives connecting historical research to contemporary conservation challenges.

His work connects with broader environmental history networks through the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences, contributing to Pacific-focused research clusters examining oceanic ecosystems and human interactions. Recent projects involve collaborations on transpacific environmental histories and Arctic climate change documentation.