Michael Goodman

Michael Goodman is Professor of Environment and Development in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Reading. He is affiliated with the Global Development Research Division, the Human Geography Research Cluster, and the Walker Institute. He previously held positions at King’s College London and has served as a visiting professor at the University of Brighton and Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Research Interests: Michael Goodman specializes in critical human geography, with research areas spanning the cultural politics of food, humanitarianism, and the environment. His work explores fair trade, alternative food networks, celebrity politics in food and climate change, and sustainable consumption in the Anthropocene. He investigates how media frames shape public understanding of sustainability and justice, with a focus on digital activism, climate communication, and the ethics of care.

Recent Research Trends: His recent publications highlight a sustained focus on food media, digital influencers, climate narratives, and political ecology. Key themes include the cultural politics of alternative proteins, celebrity-led environmentalism, climate communication in the Anthropocene, and the governance of sustainable food systems. His interdisciplinary work bridges geography, media studies, and environmental policy.

Scientific Engagement:

• Associate Editor, Climatic Change
• Editorial board member for Geoforum, Journal of Rural Studies, Celebrity Studies, and Environmental Communication
• Co-editor of the Critical Food Studies (Routledge) and Contemporary Food Issues (Bloomsbury) book series
• Over 85 scholarly publications including monographs, edited volumes, and special journal issues

Teaching and Supervision: He teaches the third-year module Consumption, Politics and Space and leads the second-year Berlin field class. He has supervised numerous PhD students on topics related to food justice, climate activism, sustainable consumption, and digital food cultures. He holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice from King’s College London and has been nominated for teaching awards.

Research Projects: Current and recent projects include vegan media activism, digital food influencers in the UK, the political economy of water charities, digital climate change influencers, peri-urban spaces in Colombia, and foodscapes in Reading during and after Covid-19.