Monia Chies

Monia Chies is a Researcher at the Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She is a social anthropologist and tibetologist with a focus on post-disaster recovery, cultural and environmental heritage, and hydro-sociality in Tibetan regions of China. She is currently a Marie Curie Fellow leading the HYSOTIB project on the 'Three River Sources' area.

Research Interests:

• Post-disaster, risk, and vulnerability studies
• Cultural and environmental heritage practices
• Hydro-sociality and river geomorphology
• History of Asian explorations and the Sino-Tibetan frontier
• Ethnography and oral history

Her current research investigates the social and ecological dimensions of water in the 'Sanjiangyuan' region, known as China's water tower, where the Mekong, Yangtze, and Yellow Rivers originate.

Scientific Awards:

• Marie Curie Fellow (2020–2024)

Monia Chies serves as Principal Investigator for the HYSOTIB project, a research initiative funded under the Marie Curie Fellowship program. The project explores the interplay between water, society, and landscape transformation in one of Asia’s most ecologically and culturally significant regions. Though no formal students are listed, her role involves mentoring and research leadership. She is based at the San Sebastiano site of Ca' Foscari University.

Labs and Research Teams:

• Principal Investigator, HYSOTIB Project (Marie Curie-funded)
• Affiliated with the Department of Asian and North African Studies, specializing in ethnographic and anthropological research on Tibetan and Himalayan regions