Carlie Cervantes De Blois is a doctoral candidate in the history of science, technology, and medicine at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Her doctoral research focuses on the history of international technical development and localized water management practices and their intersection with the region’s ecology throughout the 20th century.

As a 2022-2023 Fulbright US Student Researcher, Carlie returns to Java, Indonesia, to research the development of two major dams that have been critical irrigation sites for regional wet rice production and achieving geopolitical policies for nation-building. Additionally, Carlie seeks to apply a new materialistic lens to the river conditions to understand better the historical and ecological impact of Indonesia’s practical agricultural programs in the post-colonial period.

Carlie is affiliated with the Universitas Gadjah Mada and is looking forward to collaborating with engineers in the field, engaging with local farmers, and researching the archives.