Dr Sadiah Qureshi, senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Birmingham (UoB), has secured a grant of £167,000 from the British Academy to write the provisionally titled ‘Vanished: Episodes in the History of Extinction.’

The book will examine the concept of extinction, and will ‘challenge current histories […] which separate human and cultural extinction from broader discussions of biological species loss.’ The work will also build upon existing histories of genocide, settler colonial studies and animal studies.

Dr Qureshi explained: ‘I could not be more thrilled to be awarded this Fellowship to write and make the most of the public engagement opportunities it provides.’

Speaking to Redbrick, she also said: ‘My research explores how scientists developed the idea of extinction alongside why humans care so much about extinction in the natural world. I think it’s especially important as we face calls to stop further loss and protect the earth.’

‘After all, we’re all likely to have a species whose loss we would mourn. Personally, I can’t stand the idea of tigers being lost forever.’

Dr Qureshi’s previous publications have included Time Travellers: Victorian Perspectives on the Past and Peoples on Parade: Exhibitions, Empire and Anthropology in Nineteenth-Century Britain, the latter of which was the joint winner of the Sonya Rudikoff Award in 2011.

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