Debashish Munshi

Professor Debashish Munshi is a communication scholar at the University of Waikato's School of Management and Marketing. He specializes in public engagement, postcolonial theory, and sustainability, with a focus on climate change, citizenship, and equity. His work bridges communication studies, environmental science, and organizational theory. He has authored/co-authored eight books and over 150 articles, including award-winning titles like Public Relations and Sustainable Citizenship (2021) and Reconfiguring Public Relations (2007).

Education:

• PhD, University of Waikato, New Zealand
• BA (Hons), University of Calcutta, India

Research Interests: Munshi’s research explores intersections of communication with sustainability, social justice, and Indigenous knowledge systems. Key areas include climate change adaptation, public engagement on genetic technologies, and postcolonial perspectives in organizational communication. His work emphasizes decolonizing methodologies and cultural frameworks for equitable policy-making.

Awards & Grants:

• Recipient of Marsden Grant (2021) for the project He Rau Ringa.
• Awarded Deep South National Science Challenge grant for climate adaptation research.
• Recipient of University of Waikato’s Excellence in Research Award (2019) and teaching awards.

Advising & Teaching: Supervised doctoral student Tim Antric. Teaches courses on communication ethics, sustainable futures, and conflict negotiation, emphasizing interdisciplinary and culturally responsive pedagogy.

Labs & Collaborations: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on climate justice, Indigenous engagement, and public policy. Active in global networks such as the Deep South Challenge and the Media Collaboration Network.