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Faten KhazaeiView profile

Researcher

• Racialisation of social problems
• Postcolonial, subaltern and decolonial theory and politics
• Feminist theory and politics
• +3 more

Faten Khazaei is an interdisciplinary researcher at Northumbria University , specializing in the intersections of gender studies , critical race studies , and sociology of migration, institutions, and violence . Her empirical work employs qualitative research methods , including multi-sited ethnography and expert interviews , to examine systemic racialization of social problems and institutional responses to gender-based violence. PhD in Sociology (2019), focusing on ethnographic institutional analysis Her research spans: Racialization of domestic violence in policing Postcolonial and decolonial critiques of institutional practices Intersectionality in superdiverse migration contexts Feminist epistemology in migration research Anti-Muslim racism in Swiss institutions Ethico-methodological reflections in ethnographic work Key trends across her publications include analyses of: Intersectional frameworks in law enforcement Colonial legacies in gendered violence responses Superdiversity and policy dialogues Critical race theory in European contexts

• Jazz Studies
• Artistic Research
• Improvisation in Performance
• +4 more

Petter Frost Fadnes is a Professor of improvised music at the University of Stavanger (Faculty of Performing Arts, Department of Jazz, Dance, PPU and Music Production). A saxophonist and researcher, he has led the HERA-funded Rhythm Changes project on jazz cultures and European identities. His work bridges artistic practice and theory, focusing on improvisation’s role in identity formation, cultural hybridity, and urban contexts. Key outputs include his 2020 book *Jazz on the Line: Improvisation in Practice* and recent contributions to *Routledge* and *Ubuntu Fusion Music*. Active in over 100 international conferences, he explores jazz’s intersections with education, decolonization, and multimedia performance. Collaborations like the Kitchen Orchestra and Angrusori ensemble highlight his innovative intercultural and experimental approaches. Research interests span improvisation pedagogy, diasporic jazz networks, and institutional critique in music education. His 2023 work on decolonizing music history curricula and 2024 studies on jazz lofts as cultural hubs exemplify his commitment to redefining jazz’s academic and societal roles. Active in Norway’s jazz scene since the early 2000s, Fadnes has also contributed to policy discussions on arts funding and cultural equity through projects like *Streetwise in the artistic city* (2025).

Brett BennettView profile

Associate Professor

• Environmental History
• British Imperial History
• History of Science
• +5 more

Brett Bennett is an Associate Professor in Modern History at Western Sydney University and Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg. He holds affiliations with the Institute for Culture and Society and the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment. His research focuses on the intersection of human actions and natural processes in shaping ecosystems, scientific ideas, and conservation policies. Key areas include environmental history, British imperial history, and the history of science, with a recent emphasis on golf’s environmental and political history in Asia and Africa. Education: PhD and MA in History from the University of Texas at Austin. Research interests include global forestry management, invasive species dynamics, water conservation policies in South Africa, and historical climate science. His work bridges historical methodologies with ecological and policy analysis, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to environmental sustainability. Current projects involve analyzing Australia’s forestry aid impact in Asia/Africa, historical plant nursery data with ecologists, and golf’s colonial-era environmental legacy. Over 40 research outputs include three books, peer-reviewed articles, and collaborations across history, geography, and ecology. He supervises HDR students in environmental history and imperial studies. Grants include Australian Research Council-funded projects on heritage conservation and global climate theory history. Labs/Teams: Collaborations include the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment and international teams in ecology and urban planning. Media features include ABC Radio’s *The Science Show* and *The New Republic*.

Robel Afeworki AbayView profile

Researcher

• Disability Studies
• Intersectional Colonialities
• Postcolonial Theory
• +5 more

Robel Afeworki Abay is a former research associate at the Institute of Sociology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), and a doctoral candidate at Humboldt University of Berlin. His research focuses on intersectional colonialities, disability studies, and the socio-political exclusion faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC) with disability experiences. Central to his work is a postcolonial-informed intersectional analysis addressing labor market inequities and systemic discrimination. Education: M.A. in Social Work with an interdisciplinary focus on theory and practice. His doctoral project examines participatory research methodologies to understand employment barriers for BIPoC with disabilities, employing decolonial and intersectional frameworks. Research Interests: His work bridges disability studies, postcolonial theory, and critical race theory. Key themes include coloniality of disability, racialized capitalism, epistemic disobedience, and participatory research ethics. He critiques systemic exclusion in labor markets, migration policies, and climate crisis responses through anti-colonial and anti-racist lenses. Academic Contributions: Abay has published widely on decolonizing social work, intersectional analysis of vulnerability, and epistemic violence in knowledge production. His recent articles emphasize methodologies that center marginalized voices and challenge Eurocentric paradigms. Engagement: He contributed to the Graduate School 'Inclusion – Education – School' (2015–2022) and organized panels on topics like climate crisis coloniality and transnational solidarity. His teaching focuses on decolonial pedagogy and anti-racist practices in social work education. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Graduate School 'Inclusion – Education – School' and collaborates with the 'Intersectional Disability Justice' initiative. Active in cross-disciplinary networks addressing disability, migration, and climate justice.

Milton AlmonacidView profile

Professor

• Epistemology of Sciences
• Decolonization of Knowledge
• Indigenous Epistemologies
• +7 more

Milton Almonacid holds dual roles as a Professor of History and Geography at the Universidad de la Frontera (Temuco, Chile) and a Visiting Lecturer at ISM (likely an acronym for an institution like International School of Management). His work bridges cultural philosophy, epistemology, and decolonial studies. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Transnational Studies at the University of Copenhagen, he focuses on Mapuche epistemological contributions to global knowledge systems. Education: Ph.D. candidate in Transnational Studies, University of Copenhagen Prior academic engagements in Chile, France, and Denmark Research Focus: Specializing in the intersection of society, science, and technology, Milton explores decolonization of knowledge, indigenous epistemologies, and speculative methodologies for sustainability. His work emphasizes 'transition paradigms' to foster pluralistic knowledge frameworks. Collaborations span institutions in Chile, The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Denmark. Advising & Grants: No specific student advisees or grant details mentioned. His contributions prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration and institutional partnerships. Labs/Teams: Engages with global networks of universities and cultural institutions to advance intercultural translation and non-Western narratives in knowledge production.

Sarah PierceView profile

Lecturer

• Curatorial Studies
• Exhibition History
• Radical Pedagogies
• +3 more

Dr. Sarah Pierce is a Lecturer in Visual Culture at the School of Visual Culture, National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Dublin. Her work bridges art practice, curatorial research, and radical pedagogies, emphasizing community-driven processes and institutional critique. Pierce’s practice involves long-term collaborative projects, often framed under The Metropolitan Complex , exploring themes of self-determination, unofficial archives, and student culture. Education: PhD in Curatorial Knowledge, Goldsmiths College, University of London (2014) MFA, School of Architecture Art and Planning, Cornell University (1994) BA in Religious Studies and Studio Art, Occidental College (1990) Research Interests: Pierce’s work interrogates the intersections of art, education, and institutional structures. Key themes include radical pedagogies, dissent and self-determination, unofficial archives, and the performative nature of research. Her projects often challenge traditional institutional frameworks while advocating for open networks and collaborative processes. Awards & Recognition: Arts Council of Ireland Visual Arts Bursary (multiple years) Research Award, NCAD (2020) Zeitgeist Irland Artist (Culture Ireland, 2024) Represented Ireland at 51st Venice Biennale (2005) Academic Contributions: Pierce has held roles at institutions including the Dutch Art Institute (Arnhem), Sandberg Instituut (Amsterdam), and the University of Copenhagen. Her advising includes MA supervision in Fine Art and curatorial studies. She has contributed to initiatives like the Metropolitan Complex Papers , an ongoing series of printed conversations with other artists and researchers. Exhibitions & Publications: Pierce’s work has been featured globally in venues like the Van Abbemuseum (Eindhoven), Tate Modern (London), and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Dublin). Her monograph Scene of the Myth (2025) and edited volumes on curatorial practices reflect her commitment to redefining art’s institutional contexts.

Eve ParkerView profile

Lecturer

• World Christianities
• Feminist Theologies
• Liberation Theologies
• +4 more

Eve Parker is a Lecturer in Liberal Arts in the Department of Religions and Theology at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on World Christianities, with particular emphasis on feminist and liberation theologies, Dalit theology, and Indian Christology. Parker employs decolonial frameworks to analyze religious practices and epistemologies, as demonstrated in her work on Devadāsī traditions and Dalit women's experiences. Her scholarship examines power dynamics in theological education and advocates for distributive justice in knowledge production. She welcomes PhD supervision in areas including abuse in religious contexts, freedom of religion, and South Asian Christian traditions. Parker holds postgraduate degrees from the University of St Andrews, including an MLitt, MTh, and PhD.

• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Graphic Anthropology
• African Studies
• +9 more

Steven Van Wolputte is a Professor in the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Social Sciences, KU Leuven. He actively leads multiple research projects through 2025 and teaches graduate courses including Power, Politics and Cultures of Late Capitalism in Anthropological Perspectives and Ethnographic Design. His innovative work bridges traditional anthropological approaches with visual methodologies, pioneering what he terms 'graphic anthropology'. His research interests encompass several interconnected domains: Visual and graphic anthropology as both methodological and representational approaches African studies, with particular focus on Namibia and continental futures Power, politics and cultures of late capitalism Culture, intimacy and relatedness More-than-human kinship and human-animal relations Emergent forms of life in contexts of precarity and futuring Van Wolputte's scholarly output reveals a distinctive trajectory toward integrating visual methods with anthropological inquiry. His recent work increasingly focuses on graphic anthropology - using drawing not merely as presentation tools but as integral components of the research process itself. This approach appears across diverse geographical contexts, with significant attention to Namibia, Ethiopia, and broader African futures. His publications demonstrate consistent engagement with questions of futuring, precarity, and how people navigate uncertainty through emergent social forms. As a research leader, Van Wolputte serves as Promotor for numerous FWO-funded projects examining emergent forms of life, indigenous land activism in Argentina, post-pandemic mutual aid, and climate change responses in Malawi. His teaching portfolio reflects his research interests, emphasizing innovative methodological approaches and critical engagement with contemporary theoretical debates. Within KU Leuven's institutional structure, Van Wolputte is actively involved beyond his departmental affiliation. He is a member of the Leuven One Health Institute and the KU Leuven Urban Studies Institute (LUSI), demonstrating the interdisciplinary reach of his work. He also serves on the Social and Societal Ethics Committee, the Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and various program committees.

Kristen LowittView profile

Assistant Professor

• Sustainable Food Systems
• Indigenous Food Sovereignty
• Agricultural Policy
• +3 more

Kristen Lowitt is an Assistant Professor in the School of Environmental Studies at Queen's University, Canada. She holds cross-appointments at the Beaty Water Research Centre and the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on sustainable food systems, Indigenous food sovereignty, and community-driven environmental governance. Education: Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies (2013), Memorial University M.E.S. in Environmental Studies (2008), Dalhousie University B.E.S. in Environmental Studies (2006), York University Research Interests: Dr. Lowitt's work emphasizes participatory research with communities to address food security, environmental justice, and Indigenous governance. Key themes include small-scale fisheries, Indigenous food sovereignty, and civil society participation in policy-making. She critiques Western resource management frameworks and advocates for integrating Indigenous ecological knowledge. Research Trends in Publications: Her recent articles analyze pandemic impacts on food systems, transboundary environmental justice in fisheries governance, and the role of basic income in food sustainability. She frequently collaborates with Indigenous communities and emphasizes policy reforms for equity and resilience. Affiliations & Grants: Member of the Canadian Environmental Law Association's Healthy Great Lakes Advisory Committee (2020–present). Her work is supported through community partnerships and participatory grants (details not specified). Labs & Teams: Leads the Community Food Systems Lab , which focuses on action-oriented research to advance equitable food systems through knowledge mobilization and policy engagement.

Portia RoelofsView profile

Lecturer

• Development Studies
• African Politics
• Political Theory
• +5 more

Dr. Portia Roelofs is a Lecturer in Politics at the Department of Political Economy, King's College London. She holds degrees from Oxford University (BSc PPE), SOAS (MA African Politics), and the London School of Economics (PhD International Development). Her research focuses on development studies, African politics, and political theory, particularly exploring governance, democracy, accountability, and decolonizing knowledge production. She has conducted fieldwork in Nigeria and held fellowships at LSE and St Anne’s College, Oxford. Currently, she co-convenes the Global Development Politics special group and serves on the editorial board of the African Arguments book series. Dr. Roelofs’ 2023 book *Good Governance in Nigeria* challenges conventional accountability frameworks through Yoruba case studies, while her ongoing research examines privatization dynamics and management consultants' roles in governance. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has supervised PhD students on topics like diaspora social media and Nigerian state legitimacy. Education: BSc Politics, Philosophy & Economics, Queen's College, Oxford MA African Politics, SOAS, University of London PhD International Development, LSE Affiliations: Research Associate, African Studies Centre, Oxford Co-Investigator, JFF-funded project on governance in Nigeria Her work critiques global development paradigms and emphasizes localized African political frameworks. Recent contributions include analyses of urban renewal in Ibadan and pandemic governance transparency.

• Transdisciplinary Research
• Philosophy of Science
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems
• +4 more

David Ludwig is an Associate Professor at Wageningen University & Research in the Knowledge Technology and Innovation department. His work focuses on transdisciplinary research at the intersection of academic and indigenous knowledge systems, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, social justice, and responsible innovation. Ludwig actively engages with communities in Brazil, Ghana, and Sicily to address challenges in water governance, agroecology, and desertification. Institutions: Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands. Key Collaborations: Brazilian Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, CGIAR, WASS (Wageningen Academic Social Sciences). Research Trends: Ludwig’s recent articles highlight transdisciplinary methods for integrating ontological diversity, ethical implications of policy instruments, and epistemic pluralism in environmental governance. His work spans participatory water management in Brazil, agricultural practices in Ghana, and theoretical advancements in philosophy of science. Scientific Awards: Recipient of the NWO Vidi grant (€800,000) in 2019 for research on cross-cultural collaboration. Supervision: Promotes PhD projects on topics like digitizing alternative economies, epistemic resilience in Sicily, and agroecological innovations in Brazil. His supervised work bridges empirical studies with critical theoretical frameworks.

Bas VerschuurenView profile

Assistant Professor

• Human-nature relations
• Political ontology
• Cultural anthropology
• +11 more

Bas Verschuuren is an Assistant Professor in the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy department at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in human-nature relations within conservation governance. His work bridges cultural anthropology, political ontology, and phenomenology to address complex conservation challenges. His research expertise encompasses: Cultural and spiritual significance of nature in protected area management Governance of sacred natural sites Community well-being in biocultural landscapes Faith-based and Indigenous conservation approaches Nature-culture interactions and dichotomies Verschuuren's publication record includes over 40 book chapters and journal articles plus five edited books, demonstrating significant contributions to understanding the cultural dimensions of conservation. His research follows an applied, participatory approach, co-constructed with local communities, Indigenous peoples, conservation experts, NGOs, and governments across Northern Australia, Ghana, Guatemala, Iceland, Mongolia, and numerous other countries. As an educator, he teaches courses including Governance for Forests Nature and Conservation (BSc) and Decision-Making in Forest and Nature Management (MSc), drawing on his extensive field experience. He also serves as handling editor for PARKS, The International Journal on Protected Areas and Conservation, and Frontiers - Conservation, while reviewing for multiple scientific journals. Professional leadership includes: Co-chair of the IUCN WCPA Specialist group on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas Co-founder of the Sacred Natural Sites Initiative Member of EarthCollective and the RCB religion and Conservation Working Group Consultant for international conservation organizations including IUCN and UNESCO

Lindsay SmithView profile

Associate Professor

• Human Rights
• Forensic Science
• Medical Anthropology
• +7 more

Lindsay Smith is an Associate Professor of Science, Technology & Innovation in the Borderlands at Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society. She also holds an affiliation with the School of Life Sciences as an Interdisciplinary Graduate faculty member, and serves as a Senior Global Futures Scientist within the Global Futures Scientists and Scholars program. Her work bridges human rights, medical anthropology, and forensic science to explore how technologies like genetics and GIS shape justice in post-conflict Latin American contexts. Smith leads the STSborderlands working group, examining colonialism and technology in the Mexican Borderlands. Education: B.A. Rice University M.A. Harvard University Ph.D. Harvard University Research Interests: Smith investigates how communities adapt scientific technologies to challenge state violence and impunity. Her work focuses on: Forensic genetics and human rights activism Genetic ancestry and national identity in Argentina Technologies of displacement in border zones Decolonial science pedagogy Recent Scholarship Trends: Her articles (2021–2025) emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to forensic science’s role in transitional justice, ethical dilemmas in genetic technologies, and border ecologies. She critiques scientism while advocating for community-driven scientific practices. Awards: NSF CAREER Award (Principal Investigator) Advising & Grants: As PI of an NSF project on hybrid migration technologies, she examines surveillance-human rights intersections in the U.S.-Mexico border. Her STSborderlands initiative fosters transnational collaborations. Labs/Teams: Leads the STSborderlands working group, which integrates scholars from anthropology, science studies, and global health to address border technologies and colonial legacies.

Erica NelsonView profile

Research Fellow

• Community-based public health
• Health systems development
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights
• +7 more

Erica Nelson is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, specializing in the intersection of history, anthropology, and global health. She is affiliated with the IDS Health and Nutrition Cluster and serves as an affiliate member of the Participation, Inclusion and Social Change Cluster. Her research focuses on integrating historical perspectives into development and international health cooperation, exploring dynamics of trust in frontline health services, and enabling community engagement in health governance. Key projects include the AHRC-funded 'Remembering and Acting on Malnutrition,' the British Library for Development Studies Legacy Collection, and the 'Building Back Better from Below' initiative. She is actively involved in professional communities as a member of the NIHR's Community Engagement and Involvement Expert Advisory Committee and the WHO's Community of Practice on Social Accountability in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. She also co-leads the History Group of Health Systems Global's Social Science Approaches for Research and Engagement in Health Policy and Systems (SHAPES). Her methodological expertise spans development humanities, historical research (archives, oral history), medical anthropology, and participatory action research. She has extensive field experience across Latin America (particularly Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, and Chile) with additional work in Africa, Asia, and the UK. As an educator, she lectures on Gender, Identity and Inclusion; Ideas in Development; and Health and Development modules at IDS, co-convenes the Power and Social Perspectives in Development module, and serves as guest lecturer at LSHTM and UCL. Previously, she worked as a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and as a post-doc at the University of Amsterdam, with consulting experience at WHO, UCL Consultants, and MSI Reproductive Choices.

Yuk-Lin Renita WongView profile

Professor

• Mindfulness
• Spirituality and Social Justice
• Contemplative Pedagogy
• +3 more

Yuk-Lin Renita Wong is a Professor at the School of Social Work, York University. Her work focuses on deconstructing power relations in social work knowledge production, re-centering marginalized voices, and integrating contemplative pedagogy for decolonization. She practices mindfulness since 1998 and leads meditation in Thich Nhat Hanh's tradition. Her community service includes co-developing the Compassionate Care Program for Chinese-speaking palliative care families through the Buddhist Education Network of Ontario. Education: PhD, OISE/University of Toronto Master of Social Work, University of Hong Kong Master of Philosophy (Sociology), The Chinese University of Hong Kong Bachelor of Social Science (Sociology), The Chinese University of Hong Kong Research Interests: Mindfulness, Spirituality and Social Justice; Contemplative Pedagogy; Critical Social Work; Embodiment and Decolonization of Knowing; Gender, Colony, and Nation. Teaching & Appointments: She contributes to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and teaches critical social work theory and mindfulness in social justice contexts. Her pedagogical focus integrates mindfulness as a decolonizing practice. Labs/Teams: Co-developer of the Compassionate Care Program, providing hospice volunteer training for Chinese-speaking communities in palliative care.