# Harvard Science Book Talk: Robert Thorson, "The Walden Experiments: The Science of Henry David Thoreau" #### calendar\_today Date and Time **September 25, 2026** 06:00PM EDT #### pin\_drop Location **Science Center, Hall D** 1 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138 [ Free Tickets arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/robert-m-thorson-at-the-harvard-science-center-tickets-1996013701713) ![Robert Thorson headshot and book cover](/sites/g/files/omnuum7191/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2026-07/Thorson-mail_0.jpg?itok=Xj-2y-08) Henry David Thoreau’s *Walden* stands as the foundational text for the environmental movement and as a model for the practice of nature writing. In *The Walden Experiments*, Robert Thorson tells the story of how, after several discarded drafts of social critique, Thoreau resuscitated *Walden* with a sharp swerve toward science. Thorson invites us to read—or reread—*Walden* to discover the observations, empirical thinking, and scientific explanations supporting this canonical work of literature. Chapter by chapter, he guides us through *Walden*’s relevance for such contemporary scientific concerns as climate change, ecological collapse, water supply, agriculture, artificial intelligence, and technology. Thoreau's first “experiment” of living deliberately took place in a one-room house at Walden Pond from 1845 to 1847. This was followed from 1851 to 1852 by a little-known second experiment of trying to live deliberately in the midst of society as a sojourning scientist. Thorson’s account of a science-revitalized version of *Walden* helps us appreciate Thoreau's masterpiece not only for its prophetic, lyrical, uplifting, witty, and timeless advice on living sustainably, but also as a historic benchmark for anchoring our modern solutions. Exploring the science that underlies *Walden* enhances our understanding of the deeper meanings Thoreau draws from nature. --- **Robert M. Thorson** is Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Connecticut where he teaches courses in advanced geoscience and science communication. During the Fall 2026 semester, he is an affiliate of the Transcendentalism Initiative at the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School. His scholarship bridges the intellectual apartheid between STEM science and the humanities. He has written for outlets such as *The Atlantic, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, Orion,* and *The Conversation*. In addition to *The Walden Experiments,* he is the author of *Walden’s Shore: Henry David Thoreau and Nineteenth Century Science, The Boatman: Henry David Thoreau’s River Years,* and *The Guide to Walden Pond.* --- *Sponsored by Harvard Division of Science, Harvard Science Library, and Harvard Book Store.* *For more information and videos of Harvard Science Book Talks, see* [*https://science.fas.harvard.edu/book-talks*](https://science.fas.harvard.edu/book-talks)*.* **Contact Info:** [science\_lectures@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:science_lectures@fas.harvard.edu) See also:- [ Science Public Lecture Series ](/event-type/science-public-lecture-series) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#) Save: [ Add to calendar calendar\_today ](https://science.fas.harvard.edu/node/1623446/event-feed.ics) Copy link link