Introduction
Putting history in its place: Historicising planetary modelling
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23311697 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Thomas Turnbull (0000-0002-5266-4189, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, corresponding author), Adam Wickberg (0000-0003-2616-5826, Royal Anthropological Institute) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 181-193 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-23 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Anthropocene Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2053-0196 • E-ISSN: 2053-020X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/20530196261472808 |
| OpenAlex | W7170172477 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 51 |
Earth System science (ESS) develops computer models of planetary dynamics using sets of partial differential equations. As humans have become recognised as a major determinant of Earth system change, the integration of lines of code that represent human history has become necessary. However, as yet, these representations have proven somewhat rudimentary and run into perennial concerns inherent to the human sciences. The introduction to this special issue addresses the recent history of integrating history and ESS and outlines a proposed counter-move: the historicization of Earth system modelling. Outcomes of this work are presented here. Moreover, in outlining past attempts at integrating history and ESS, we note some fundamental differences between these disciplines. Rather than disavowing integration, however, we call for ongoing and mutually respectful experimentation.
Code (set theory) · Earth (classical element) · Earth system science · History of science · Work (physics) · Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution · Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies · Origins and Evolution of Life
Never Pure
‘Earth system’ analysis and the second Copernican revolution
The emergence and evolution of Earth System Science
Modelling the anthropocene
Towards a political ecology of Earth System Modelling
Public perceptions of climate tipping points
Understanding why degrowth is absent from mitigation scenarios
A brief review of the coupled human-Earth system modeling
Toward Cliodynamics – an Analytical, Predictive Science of History
Models like heroes? Making Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) ready for deep decarbonization and a socio-economic transformation
Developing an Integrated History and future of People on Earth (Ihope)
History for the Anthropocene
Earth System governmentality
Methods and approaches to modelling the Anthropocene
Developing a systematic “science of the past” to create our future
Branding the Earth
How to be Universal
Taking the Temperature of History
Humans and the Great Lakes— Anthropogenic Impact and the Search for the “Anthropocene Golden Spike
Hell Is Truth Seen Too Late
Environmental humanities and climate change
The Anthropo-scene
Who speaks for the future of Earth? How critical social science can extend the conversation on the Anthropocene
Crisis
Flows of air, flows of electrons
The geology of mankind? A critique of the Anthropocene narrative
Closing the loop
From planetary scenarios to planetary sensing
The earth in the model
The History of Science and the Science of History
The Climate Emergency Demands a New Kind of History
Earth System Science, Anthropocene Historiography, and Three Forms of Human Agency
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |