Justin J. Podur

Justin J. Podur is Professor and Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning at York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. He holds a PhD in Forestry from the University of Toronto and has established himself as a prominent scholar bridging environmental science and critical geopolitical analysis.

His research spans two interconnected domains: political conflicts in regions affected by Western intervention (particularly Haiti, Colombia, Venezuela, and the DRC), and environmental science focusing on forest fire patterns in Ontario and climate change impacts. He integrates historical research with contemporary geopolitical analysis, drawing from extensive fieldwork in conflict zones where he has worked as both journalist and translator.

Podur's academic work reveals clear trends: a consistent critical examination of Western intervention in the Global South, with particular attention to media narratives that justify military actions and economic sanctions. His environmental research demonstrates sophisticated use of quantitative methods and GIS to model ecological patterns while connecting them to broader political economic forces.

• NSERC Discovery Grant recipient
• Frank A. MacDougall Fellowship awardee
• Author of multiple scholarly books on geopolitics
• Host of 'The Anti-Empire Project Podcast' (175+ episodes)

As a dedicated educator, Podur supervises graduate students in Geography and Environmental Studies while teaching courses ranging from environmental management to advanced statistical analysis. His public intellectual work through blogging and podcasting extends his academic insights to broader audiences, maintaining rigorous analysis while remaining accessible to non-specialists.