Hugh Raffles

Hugh Raffles is Professor and Chair of Anthropology at The New School for Social Research and Director of the Graduate Institute for Design, Ethnography, and Social Thought (GIDEST). He holds a DFES degree from Yale University (1999). His work bridges anthropology, environmental humanities, and creative nonfiction, focusing on human-nonhuman relations, nature studies, and experimental writing forms. Raffles has published widely in venues like Public Culture, Cabinet, and Orion, with major books including Insectopedia (2010) and The Book of Unconformities (2020), which won the 2023 J.I. Staley Prize.

His research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, exploring topics such as geological time, material culture, and environmental ethics through ethnographic and literary methods. Notable awards include the Arts and Letters Award in Literature (2023) and the Whiting Writers’ Award (2009). Raffles teaches advanced seminars in anthropology, design, and ethnography, including courses on independent research and senior projects. He directs GIDEST, fostering innovative collaborations between design, social theory, and creative practice.

Recent writing engagements include essays on volcanic landscapes (Iceland), urban monuments, and pandemic-era pedagogy. His work consistently challenges disciplinary boundaries, blending academic rigor with poetic inquiry to explore the intersections of culture, environment, and materiality.