The Stories Nature Tells
Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Naomi Yuval-Naeh
What do the Victorian fern craze, early Zionist botany, and coal’s deep-time origins have in common? Dr. Naomi Yuval-Naeh unearths their fascinating stories, revealing how history’s intricate relationship with nature shapes the way we see the world today. A historian at Hebrew University’s Faculty of Humanities and a historic curator at the National Natural History Collections, Yuval-Naeh explores the ways societies have studied, interpreted, and engaged with the natural world throughout history. Her interdisciplinary research offers fresh insights with surprising relevance to our modern world.
Written By: Keri Rosenbluh
Dr. Naomi Yuval-Naeh’s academic journey is rooted in a deep curiosity about both the natural sciences and the humanities. At Hebrew University, she studied biology and plant science while also participating in the Amirim Interdisciplinary Honors Program in the Humanities. This blend of disciplines ultimately led her to discover her true calling in the history of science, which she pursued further through her PhD at Tel Aviv University.
Today, she continues to bridge her diverse interests, serving as a historian at Hebrew University’s Faculty of Humanities on Mount Scopus and as a historic curator at the National Natural History Collections on the Edmond J. Safra campus. Her research spans a captivating range of topics – from early Zionist botany to domestic plants in 19th-century Britain, and coal as a botanical curiosity in Victorian culture—offering a truly interdisciplinary perspective on history, environment, and nature.
Preserving Nature’s Archive
Established in the early 20th century by pioneering naturalists, the National Natural History Collections (NNHC) are a treasure trove of biodiversity, housing over 6.5 million plant, animal, fossil, and mineral specimens that document the rich biodiversity of the Middle East. Collected from Israel and neighboring countries like Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt, these specimens provide a window into the region’s ecological and geological history.
Dr. Yuval-Naeh first encountered the NNHC during her postdoctoral research. Exploring archival materials that had long been overlooked, she uncovered field journals, correspondence, and illustrations that revealed the stories behind the biological specimens housed there. “Beyond its value as a taxonomical record, each specimen tells a story,” shares Yuval-Naeh. “When paired with its historical background, it also reveals the people, places, and moments behind its collection.” For example, a rare fish specimen collected from Lake Hula before its drainage isn’t just an ecological record; it offers a snapshot of a transformative environmental moment in the region’s history.
Yuval-Naeh sees her role at the NNHC as central to uncovering these narratives, linking the physical specimens and the archival materials that accompany them. “Field journals, for instance, offer incredible insights into historical landscapes,” she explains. “They allow us to reconstruct the botanical or ecological environment of places like Mandatory Palestine, Iraq, or Syria in the 1920s or 1930s.” These journals often document extinct species or vanished habitats that may not appear in the physical collections but are crucial for understanding ecological changes over time.
This dual approach—blending archival records with biological data—has transformed the NNHC into a dynamic resource for understanding the intersection of science and culture, while illuminating the evolving relationship between people and nature. In addition to their academic significance, the collections play an active role in public education and outreach, with ongoing digitization projects and monthly tours offering new ways for the public to engage with these treasures.
The History of Zionist Botany
Zionist botany is among Dr. Yuval-Naeh’s key research interests. The story begins in the early 1920s with two young friends, Alexander Eig and Eliezer Factorovsky, who saw botany as a way to embrace the broader Zionist ethos of the time. “We have letters between them where they outline their decision to pursue Zionist botany as a means of connecting the people to the Land, by studying and naming its native flora,” Dr. Yuval-Naeh shares. Her research delves into the fascinating narratives behind their botanical studies, uncovering how scientific exploration became a powerful tool for both cultural expression and national identity.
Eig and Factorovsky’s ideological mission soon evolved into a formal discipline. Their pioneering project, Magdir Hatzmachim (The First Hebrew Analytical Key for the Flora of Palestine), was “more than just a field guide,” describes Dr. Yuval-Naeh. “Each plant species was given both a Latin scientific name and a Hebrew name, blending linguistic revival with rigorous botanical inquiry.”
As the field grew, the botanists studied the region’s phytogeography—the geographical distribution of plants – revealing its cosmopolitan character as a meeting point of Asian, European, and African flora. “This was a major shift,” Dr. Yuval-Naeh explains. “They began to see the land not as an isolated entity but as part of a larger Middle Eastern ecosystem.” Eig and his colleagues conducted excursions across the entire region, from Iraq to Lebanon, deepening their understanding of the interconnectedness of Middle Eastern flora.
One of Eig’s most lasting contributions was the establishment of the Mount Scopus Botanical Garden in 1931. Designed to reflect the region’s three phytogeographical zones—the Mediterranean, the Irano-Turanian, and the Saharo-Sindian—the garden served as a microcosm of the region’s biodiversity. Nearly 100 years later, it thrives as a living testament to biodiversity and offers a serene campus space for learning, reflection, and connection to nature.
Potted Plants or Companions?
Dr. Yuval-Naeh’s first book, Potted Pets: Plants and People in Nineteenth-Century Britain, explores, among other themes, the 19th-century Victorian fascination with ferns, a phenomenon that turned these humble plants into cultural icons. “Suddenly, ferns were everywhere, adorning homes, gardens, textiles, and even architectural designs,” says Yuval-Naeh.
This fern frenzy coincided with a broader cultural shift, as Victorians began viewing plants not merely as decorative objects but as living companions. "Growing domestic plants was significant because it reflected a change in how people related to nature," Dr. Yuval-Naeh explains. "Plants started to be seen as animate individuals, much like pets, offering emotional comfort and companionship during times of hardship." Domestic plants became symbols of humanity’s deepening, more personal connection with the natural world amidst rapid urbanization.
This era saw a surge in the use of Wardian cases—elegant glass containers that allowed ferns and other plants to thrive indoors—and the emergence of “fern hunting,” a popular pastime combining leisure with outdoor exploration. "Essentially, Wardian cases enabled people to cultivate intimate, personal anchors to nature within the home," shares Yuval-Naeh. This not only helped ease the tension between progress and preservation, but also shaped new, enduring ideas about nature’s place in human lives.
Unearthing Coal’s Deep-Time Origins
Dr. Yuval-Naeh’s work on plant-human relations led to her current, ISF-funded research on coal, which ties back to the Carboniferous Period when lush tropical forests—dominated by ferns—formed the coal deposits that fueled Britain’s industrial revolution.
The idea of deep time, which emerged in the 19th century, radically shifted perceptions of Earth’s history, extending its timeline back millions of years. This groundbreaking notion captivated not only scientists but also the public, inspiring a wave of imaginative, vivid reconstructions of prehistoric landscapes. "In the early 19th century, scientists and artists began envisioning scenes from the Carboniferous period, bringing lush tropical forests and towering ferns to life through their work," Dr. Yuval-Naeh explains.
These landscapes were a stark contrast to the bleak, blackened coal mines of industrial Britain, where the fossilized remains of those ancient tropical forests now powered progress. "The very resource fueling the industrial revolution was born in a world entirely different from modern Britain," she adds, reflecting on how this paradox shaped cultural and scientific narratives of the time.
Yuval-Naeh’s research examines these intersections of geological imagination and economic significance, shedding further light on 19th-century perspectives on the relationship between humanity and the natural world – perspectives that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions on sustainability and resource use.
Cultivating Future Perspectives
Through her interdisciplinary work, Dr. Naomi Yuval-Naeh reveals how the stories we tell about nature shape our understanding of the past, present, and future, influencing how we, as a society, address today’s pressing challenges.
Beyond her research, Yuval-Naeh teaches courses in 19th-century history, environmental history, and the history of science, encouraging students to explore the intricate connections between humanity and the natural world. “I want my students to understand history as a dynamic narrative that intertwines people and their environments,” she explains. By fostering this perspective, she challenges students to think critically and holistically about the ethical and ecological issues we face today.
When her students visit the university’s National Natural History Collections, they engage first-hand with specimens and archival materials that underscore the importance of bridging science and history, and help bring these connections to life. Dr. Yuval-Naeh hopes these experiences will inspire them to carry their understanding into their future endeavors, while better equipped to tackle global challenges with a broader, historically informed perspective.