Profile photo of David Nally

Phone number: +44 (0)1223 764880

Email: dpn24@cam.ac.uk

Website: http://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/people/nally/

Professor David Nally

Fellow, Director of Studies in Geography (Parts IA and IB)
University Positions
Professor of Historical Geography
Subjects
Geography
Specialising in
Human Geography

David Nally is a University Professor of Historical Geography and a Director of Studies in Geography at Jesus College.

Academic interests

I have research interests in American philanthropy, political ecology and global agriculture, and the historical geography of empire. I also have a longstanding interest in social theory and the history of ideas.

Degrees obtained

  • BA Joint Hons, History and Geography, University College Cork.
  • PhD in Geography, University of British Columbia.

Awards and prizes

  • The Rockefeller Foundation, Grant-in-Aid award, 2014.
  • Philip Leverhulme Prize, 2013.
  • CRASSH Early Career Fellowship, 2009.

Biography

I grew up in a rural setting in County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland, not far from the estuary of the River Shannon. I studied at University College Cork and the University of British Columbia in Canada before moving to Cambridge to take up a lectureship in Geography.

Other interests

Novels, film, music, various sports, countryside walks, cycling.

Department link

http://www.geog.cam.ac.uk

Publications, links and resources

Example publications

Nally, D. (2011) Human Encumbrances: Political Violence and the Great Irish Famine, University of Notre Dame Press. 366pp.

Nally, D. Morrissey, J., Strohmayer, Ul., and Whelan, Y. (2014) Key Concepts in Historical Geography, Sage.

Nally, D. (2015) Governing Precarious Lives: Land Grabs, Geopolitics, and 'Food Security'. Geographical Journal, v. 181, p.340-349. doi:10.1111/geoj.12063.

Nally, D. and Taylor, S. (2015). The Politics of Self-help: The Rockefeller Foundation, Philanthropy and the 'Long' Green Revolution. Political Geography, v 49, p 51-63. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2015.04.005.

Nally, D. (2016) Imagine All the People: Rockefeller Philanthropy, Malthusian Thinking and the ‘Peasant Problem’ in Asia. In: Mayhew, R. (ed) New Perspectives on Malthus: 250th Anniversary Essays, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Nally, D. (2016). Against Food Security: On forms of Care and Fields of Violence. Global Society, v. 30, p.558-582. doi:10.1080/13600826.2016.1158700.

Nally, D. and Brooks, C. (2018). From the Teen to the Green Revolution: American Philanthropy and Youth Club Work in Northern Europe. Journal of Historical Geography, v. 61, p.27-43. doi:10.1016/j.jhg.2018.03.002.

Nally, D. and Kearns, G. (2020). Vegetative States: Potatoes, Affordances and Survival Ecologies. Antipode: A Radical Journal of Geography. doi: 10.1111/anti.12652

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    Ellie

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    Jesus College has been a great home for me during my PhD. I chose Jesus College for a number of reasons – first, the location. We are central enough to be within easy walking distance of most things, but far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle (and tourists in summer!). The College also has extensive grounds, with amenities like the hockey pitch, football pitch and tennis courts all on site. Secondly, the accommodation is some of the best I’ve seen in Cambridge. My house was newly renovated when...

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    What first attracted me to Jesus College was its reputation and history, central location without being touristy, and the postgraduate housing options. When I arrived at Jesus I was so pleased to find the partner accommodation was spacious, affordable, and situated very close to the college, allowing us to really take advantage of the facilities. We especially enjoyed The Roost, the nicest of all the college bars, doubling as a café during the day - ideal for studying or meeting up with groups - and a lively pub in the...

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    I chose Jesus College because of the great mixture of undergraduates and postgraduates, and when I first visited I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen! The sense of community in Jesus has had an enormous impact on my experience here. Whether you need help, advice, cheering up or even just a chat there is always someone there to put a smile on your face. From the MCR committee to the Porters, the canteen staff to the gardeners, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Jesus also...

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    Jesus College has been at the heart of my Cambridge experience. I chose the College because I was impressed by its distinctive blend of academic rigour and extracurricular achievement. A College for all-rounders, Jesus is a lively and rewarding place to study. I couldn’t be happier here! Friendly and engaged, the Jesus postgraduate community never ceases to impress me. At ease with themselves and forever curious, my peers go out of their way to cultivate a sense of camaraderie. After a day of leafing through old manuscripts at the National...

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    Jake

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    When applying to Cambridge colleges it can feel a bit overwhelming as there are so many to choose from. I applied to Jesus College because it has a large MCR which was important for me because I wanted to feel part of a community. Now that I’m doing my PhD here, I’m very glad I did choose a college with a large postgraduate community. Throughout the year there are lots of postgraduate events, including formal dinners, special formals at Christmas and Easter, bops in the bar and film nights in...

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