Qingyi Zeng, a PhD candidate in Comparative Literature and a 2025-26 Graduate Fellow at the Institute for the Humanities, aims to complicate the notion of “species” and explore its meaning not merely as a biological category, but as a multivalent word and concept imbued with rich narratives. Inspired by scholarship in multispecies studies and environmental humanities, Zeng examines how “species” operates across scientific, linguistic, and cultural contexts. Dedicating three years to her research thus far, Zeng explores how the term “species” has evolved over time and across languages, as well as how different understandings of species are intertwined with various social and cultural phenomena in East Asia today.
While species is commonly understood within the context of biological taxonomy, Zeng’s research challenges the idea that it is a fixed and predefined concept. Intersecting her research with comparative literature, Zeng connects species and narrative through their shared relationship to time and the question of classification. Rather than focusing on textual representations of species, she is interested in how the meanings of “species” multiply and become contested through translation, semantic plurality, and storytelling. In exploring the history of the word, Zeng became intrigued by the fact that the English term “species” originates from Latin etymology meaning “the appearance or form of things.” Before becoming a biological term, “species” was rooted in visual perception. Tracing back to this etymology reinforces Zeng’s argument that “species” is not a fixed concept, but an ever-evolving one shaped through situated linguistic, cultural, and social practices.
Along with this discovery, Zeng approaches her research from two angles. First, she examines “species” as a word, exploring how its meaning developed and shifted through translation between languages. Second, she examines “species” as a living formation through a case study of the ‘Taiwanese white dolphin.’ Previously named as the ‘Chinese white dolphin,’ the animal has become the topic of taxonomic debate in Taiwan in recent years. These approaches allow Zeng to explore the intricate interplay between language, scientific concepts, and more-than-human lives. Through her research on white dolphins, she has worked closely with marine biologists and environmental organizations, contributing a humanities perspective that helps communicate research to broader audiences. Outside of this research, Zeng also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Complementing her interdisciplinary studies, she is also completing a graduate certificate in Science and Technology Studies.
As a Graduate Fellow at the Institute for the Humanities, Zeng values the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary conversations with those in academia. She describes the fellowship as a space that allows her to immerse herself in research while connecting with scholars across various fields, truly helping her refine her research. Looking to the future, Zeng hopes her research will develop into a book. Broadly, she hopes her work will encourage audiences to rethink what interdisciplinary scholarship can look like. By bridging the humanities and sciences, she aims to demonstrate how concepts tied to the sciences are subtly shaped by language, culture, and society.
Ultimately, Zeng hopes audiences will learn to view “species” as an evolving word, concept, and form of life as well as reconsider the boundaries between science and the humanities. Zeng’s research reminds us that even the most scientific ideas carry human stories within them.
Qingyi Zeng is a William and Sally Searle Graduate Fellow at the Institute for the Humanities and a PhD Candidate in Comparative Literature.
Serenity Moore is a 2025-26 Public Humanities Intern at the Institute for the Humanities in her third-year, majoring in Communications & Media with a minor in Writing.
