William San Martín (He/Him/El) is Assistant Professor of Global Environmental Science, Technology, and Governance in the Department of Integrative and Global Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 

He is also a Scholar affiliated with the Climate Social Science Network (CSSN) at Brown University and a Research Fellow at the Earth Systems Governance Project at Utrecht University.

An interdisciplinary scholar trained in environmental history and science and technology studies (STS), William examines the intersections of nitrogen’s biochemistry, knowledge systems, and policy. Through historical and participatory methodologies, his research addresses issues of science, technology, and governance, with a focus on sustainable development in the Global South.

William received a B.A. and M.A. from the Universidad Católica de Chile and a Ph.D. from the University of California Davis. He is a former Fullbright Scholar and has held postdoctoral fellowships in the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program and the History Section at MIT, as well as the Rachel Carson Center for Environment & Society.

William has extensive experience in policy-oriented research and collaboration with international organizations. His work integrates biophysical scientists, policymakers, and international institutions, employing community-based participatory methods and actively contributing to policy forums. Currently, he serves as a Co-PI for two NSF-funded grants: "Accelerating Coordination across Research and Policy Networks to Halve Nitrogen Waste (iN-Net)" (Award 2412593) and "Using the Rules of Life to Address Societal Challenges Grant: Co-Producing Knowledge, Biotechnologies and Practices to Enhance Biological Nitrogen Fixation for Sustainable Agriculture" (Award 2319430). 

William is co-editor, along with Emily O'Gorman, Mark Carey, and Sandra Swart, of the Routledge Handbook of Environmental History (Routledge, 2023), and author of various peer-reviewed articles and book chapters published in fields including history of science and technology, environmental studies, sustainable development, and Latin American studies. He currently curates the collections "Technology and Expertise" and "Histories across Species" for Arcadia, the online, peer-reviewed journal of the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society.

William is a contributing author to Chapter 29 (“A Governance Framework for Better Nitrogen Management”) of the International Nitrogen Assessment (INA), the first global assessment addressing issues at the intersection of nitrogen science and governance. Set for publication in 2024, INA is sponsored by UNEP, and aims to provide policy and scientific advice to advance sustainable nitrogen practices globally. William is also a Steering Council Member for the North American Chapter of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI), the primary scientific organization working on building partnerships and collaborations to assess local, regional, and global impacts of nitrogen pollution. 

At WPI,  he is an affiliated faculty with the MS Community Climate Adaptation, the International & Global Studies, and the Great Problems Seminar Programs, and a Steering Committee Member of WPI's Latin American & Caribbean Studies Initiative. He has served as a faculty advisor for Interactive Qualifying Projects working with local organizations at the intersection of sustainable development, environmental conservation, and climate resilience at WPI's Costa Rica - Monteverde and Cuenca - Ecuador Project Centers. 

Visit Digital WPI to view student projects and research advised by Professor San Martín
For courses taught at WPI and MIT, visit Professor San Martín’s personal website