Broadly, my research focuses on science denialism and I am interested in better understanding how anti-science arguments are constructed in public discourse, particularly when those arguments deal with biology and health. In prior scholarship, I have written about anti-evolutionism, women’s health and wellness, the paleo diet, media coverage of earthquakes and risk, and environmental architecture. I come from a background of both English and Communication Studies and often write from a critical perspective to unearth embodiments of power in text and language. My work spans multiple time periods, but I particularly love learning about Victorian biology and health, mid-century American science, and contemporary examples of anti-science sentiment in public discourse. My project for this symposium exemplifies this interest across eras given that it is a comparative analysis of responses to different infectious disease epidemics in the US. I hope to continue developing this project along with other work I’m doing on science denialism, including research on “common sense” science and arguments about labor and delivery and women’s health.