Graduate Associate
mfennema[at]yorku.ca
Doctoral Student
Graduate Program in History, York University
Research Keywords:
Environmental history; south China; Indigenous histories
Research Region(s):
China, East Asia
I am a doctoral student focusing on the sociocultural history of China during the Qing and Republican periods. My research investigates the history of the betel nut in Southern China, particularly focusing on how its use contributed to the construction of different cultural identities, and how its associations shifted from a perceived health benefit to a recognized health risk. I explore these questions by linking betel nut practices to ethnic relations, environmental change, medicinal knowledge, and state-making.
I hold a BA in Human Geography from the University of Amsterdam, an MA in Political Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, and a Research MA in Asian Studies from Leiden University.