This talk presents some preliminary findings from an in-process study of hydrocarbon-eating microbes and the humans who have discovered, researched, cared for, grown, killed, sold, and otherwise interacted with them. Following some discussion of why this topic seems of interest in and beyond anthropology and science/technology studies, I focus on some historical examples that range from the early years of petroleum microbiology in Russia through the Cold War-era race to develop “petroprotein.” I conclude with some questions prompted by contemporary research in this field, including but not limited to bioremediation.
Douglas Rogers
is Professor of Anthropology at Yale University and author of two award-winning books about Russia. For the past few years, he has been collecting materials for a new research project about the history and contemporary practice of petroleum microbiology and biotechnology. He was recently named a 2024 Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
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