Liang Wu

Liang Wu is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Bates College. He specializes in oceanic anthropology, blue humanities, and political ecology, focusing on maritime workers and global logistics systems. Wu holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from CUNY and has conducted extensive fieldwork in ports and aboard ships, examining seafarers' lifeworlds and the socio-environmental impacts of container shipping. His interdisciplinary approach bridges academia, policy, and societal engagement.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, Graduate Center, CUNY
• M.Phil. in Anthropology, Graduate Center, CUNY
• M.Phil. in Anthropology, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Research Interests: Wu explores the interplay of technology, infrastructure, and human labor in global shipping, with a focus on the Anthropocene, mobility politics, and environmental justice. He analyzes how seafarers navigate transnational systems shaped by neoliberal policies and climate change.

Awards: Wu has received prestigious grants including the Wenner-Gren Post-PhD Research Grant (2024), Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship (2022–23), and multiple Waterfront Alliance scholarships. His work emphasizes sustainable futures for maritime communities.

Teaching & Advising: Courses include 'Peoples of the Sea' and 'Global Capitalism and the Sea,' focusing on maritime labor, environmental policy, and interdisciplinary analysis. Wu mentors students in ethnographic methods and critical thinking.

Affiliations: Atlantic Black Box, American Geophysical Union, and Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative highlight his commitment to collaborative research addressing socio-environmental challenges in maritime domains.