Sophia Kalantzakos

Sophia Kalantzakos is a Global Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Public Policy at NYU Abu Dhabi. She holds a BA from Yale University, an MA from Columbia University, and a PhD from the University of the Peloponnese. Her research focuses on global environmental governance, resource competition, and geopolitical shifts driven by climate change and decarbonization. She founded the eARThumanities Research Initiative and leads projects like 'The Geopolitics and Ecology of Himalayan Water,' addressing water insecurity affecting 2.5 billion people.

Key affiliations include NYU Abu Dhabi, Princeton’s PIIRS as a Fung Fellow (2019–2020), and Caltech’s RIHST@CH as a Senior Fellow (2020–2021). Awards include Rachel Carson Fellowships (2015, 2018) and leadership roles at the RCC Society of Fellows.

Her teaching spans interdisciplinary courses such as 'The Himalayas: Geopolitics and Ecology of Melting Mountains' and 'Global Debate on Green Growth.' Research emphasizes China’s Belt and Road Initiative, EU-China climate collaboration, and critical mineral geopolitics. She authored China and the Geopolitics of Rare Earths (Oxford, 2018) and edited volumes on critical minerals and energy transformations.

Current projects include exploring China’s 'Ecological Civilization' discourse and organizing conferences on critical minerals. She advises on policy frameworks for decarbonization and resource governance, blending humanities and social science approaches to address 21st-century global challenges.