Beto W
- Research Program Mentor
MPhil at Oxford University
Expertise
Modern British History, Environmental History, American History, History of War, Sustainability
Bio
My name is Beto Wetter and I am a historian. I love studying history because by studying the past we can learn how to inform our decisions in the present to impact the future. I received my BA in History with Departmental Honors from Bowdoin College in 2019 and recently completed my MPhil in History from the University of Oxford in 2023. My specialism is in modern British history during and after the First World War through the lens of environmental history. With that said, I have additional experience in North American Environmental History, Modern European History, African History (e.g. South Africa), and United States History. From a "nuts and bolts" perspective, I have experience writing grant proposals for archival research, conducting archival research, writing historiography, and historical thinking. History is not just about memorizing facts and dates--which are helpful--but rather the interpretation of past events by cross-referencing often conflicting sources to study change over time and place. When I am not studying, reading, or writing history, I love hiking, swimming in Lake Tahoe, traveling around the world, and spending time with family and friends.Project ideas
Studying North American Environmental History
What is the relationship between the built and natural environment over time and place? How is the legacy of the American West intertwined within industrialization, colonization, and modernization? By looking at primary and secondary sources, we can help unpack the complexities of historiographical debates of the American West. Possible student outcomes could be essays, journal articles, etc. Potential skills students could learn from this project: evaluating source material, historical thinking, primary and secondary source research, discovering the "personal" across a broad expanse of time and space.
Paradox of Progress: How to Study GenAI through the Lens of History
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) represents a groundbreaking technological frontier, poised to reshape industries, societies, and cultures in profound ways. However, the rapid pace of its development presents a paradox: while it promises significant advancements, it also brings risks related to ethics, equity, governance, and environmental sustainability. This project seeks to explore this paradox through an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on environmental history, international relations, public policy, law, and comparative analysis to understand the broader implications of GenAI. By examining historical patterns of technological revolutions, such as the Industrial Revolution, the rise of global communication networks, and the advent of automation, this project investigates how societies have historically responded to transformative technologies. It emphasizes the environmental, political, and legal contexts that shaped these responses and offers a comparative analysis of how technological progress has both driven and been constrained by policy frameworks, international diplomacy, and socio-economic factors. The project draws on environmental history to explore how past technological advancements have affected ecosystems, resource distribution, and environmental governance, offering insights into how GenAI might impact sustainability. In the realm of international relations, the study investigates how nations collaborate—or compete—in shaping the global regulation and ethical standards surrounding new technologies. Public policy and law are key components, as the project analyzes how governmental and legal institutions have historically adapted to disruptive innovations, and how these frameworks can evolve to manage the potential societal and environmental effects of GenAI. This project aims to provide a nuanced understanding of GenAI as not just a technological phenomenon, but a deeply embedded social, legal, and environmental issue. By applying a comparative historical analysis, the study contributes to discussions on global governance, responsible innovation, and the need for laws and policies that address both the promises and the challenges posed by this emerging technology.
A Burning State: California’s Complicated Relationship with Fire
California burns—literally and metaphorically. From the towering infernos of the Sierra Nevada to the dry chaparral of the coast, fire has long shaped California’s landscapes, communities, and policies. But the story of fire in the Golden State is more than just one of devastation—it's a story of decisions, history, suppression, and resilience. This project invites students to explore California’s complex relationship with fire, past and present. Whether you're passionate about environmental law, public policy, or history, this is your chance to dig into one of the most urgent and misunderstood environmental issues of our time. We’ll examine how the state’s legacy of fire suppression—including the banning of Indigenous controlled burn practices—has contributed to the dangerous buildup of biomass in our forests today. We’ll also look at how recent events like the Palisades Fire of January 2025 have reignited debates around ecological stewardship and the need for proactive, historically informed fire policy. Students can tailor their focus to their interests: analyze how California industries (from timber to tech) have intersected with fire over time, explore the rise of the bioeconomy as a tool for fire mitigation, or conduct archival research on how state and federal fire policies evolved over the 20th and 21st centuries. This is more than a research project—it's a chance to turn the embers of curiosity into sparks of understanding. Let’s study fire not just as a threat, but as a mirror of California’s environmental past and a map for its more resilient future.