James Beattie specialises in environmental history, garden history and the history of science, as well as health history. He is particularly fascinated by the exchange of scientific, health and environmental ideas, especially between Asia and Australasia, as well as the collection of Chinese art objects in New Zealand.

He is the founding editor of the refereed, open-access journal, International Review of Environmental History(ANU Press).

He is also an Associate Editor of the New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies, and sits on the editorial boards of the following international journals, Environment and History, History Australia, and Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes.

He co-edits the Palgrave Studies in World Environmental History and Routledge Research on Gardens in History.