Dark laboratory: on Columbus, the Caribbean, and the origins of the climate crisis
Tao Leigh Goffe joins us to discuss her new book, Dark Laboratory:On Columbus, the Caribbean, and the Origins of the Climate Crisis (Penguin, 2025).
Using the Caribbean as a case study, Tao Leigh Goffe traces the vibrant and complex history of the islands back to 1492 and the arrival of Christopher Columbus when the Caribbean became the subject of Western exploitation. Dark Laboratory takes hopeful and galvanising teachings from the islands communities to offer illuminating solutions to the ecological crisis. From guano to sugarcane, coral bleaching to invasive mongoose populations, Dark Laboratory is a lyrical, vibrant and urgent investigation into the greatest threat facing humanity.
Meet our speaker and chair
Tao Leigh Goffe is Associate Professor at Hunter College, CUNY where she teaches classes on literary theory and cultural history.
Sara Salem is Associate Professor at LSE. Her main research interests include political sociology, postcolonial studies, Marxist theory, feminist theory, and global histories of empire and imperialism.
If you are planning to attend this event and would like details on how to get here and what time to arrive, as well as on accessibility and special requirements, please refer to
. LSE aims to ensure that people have equal access to these public events, but please contact the events organiser as far as possible in advance if you have any access requirements so that arrangements, where possible, can be made. If the event is ticketed, please ensure you get in touch in advance of the ticket release date.
Access Guides to all our venues can be viewed online
.
Photographs are regularly taken at LSE events both by LSE staff and members of the media. Photographs from events taken by LSE staff are often used on LSE's social media accounts.
We aim to make all LSE events available as a podcast subject to receiving permission from the speaker/s to do this, and subject to no technical problems with the recording of the event. Podcasts are normally available 3-5 working days after the event. Podcasts and videos of past events from the Department of Sociology can be found
.
Follow us on Twitter: @LSESociology
Follow us on Facebook: LSESociologyFollow us on Instagram: @LSESociologyFollow us on LinkedIn: LSE Sociology
LSE has now introduced wireless for guests and visitors in association with 'The Cloud', also in use at many other locations across the UK. If you are on campus visiting for the day or attending a conference or event, you can connect your device to wireless. See more information and create an account at Join the Cloud.
Visitors from other participating institutions are encouraged to use eduroam. If you are having trouble connecting to eduroam, please contact your home institution for assistance.
The Cloud is only intended for guest and visitor access to wifi. Existing LSE staff and students are encouraged to use eduroam instead.
LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of The London School of Economics and Political Science.
From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event. Whilst we are hosting this listing, LSE Events does not take responsibility for the running and administration of this event. While we take responsible measures to ensure that accurate information is given here this event is ultimately the responsibility of the organisation presenting the event.
LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Join the LSE Events mailing list
