Nicholas Shapiro

Nicholas Shapiro is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, affiliated with the Institute for Society and Genetics. As Director of the Carceral Ecologies lab, he focuses on the intersection of environmental injustice and mass incarceration. His work bridges environmental research, public policy, and community engagement.

• Department II, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG)
• "Environmental Knowledge in Times of Crisis" research theme

Shapiro's research spans chemical contamination, climate change interventions, and transdisciplinary environmental justice frameworks. His projects include:

• Tracking post-Katrina contaminated housing resale
• Developing community air monitoring systems for natural gas extraction impacts
• Testing fossil-fuel-free long-distance air travel prototypes

His work has been featured in National Public Radio, Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Community-Engaged Scholarship Award
• STS Knowledge and Expertise Recognition
• Educational Innovation Award

At UCLA, Shapiro directs the Carceral Ecologies lab, which investigates environmental harm in carceral systems, while contributing to the MPIWG's Department II on historical environmental knowledge systems.