Dr Kingsley Edney is an Associate Professor in International Relations of China at the University of Leeds' School of Politics and International Studies. He holds a PhD (International Relations) and MA (Political Science) from the University of Melbourne, along with a BA(Hons) in Politics and Anthropology from Victoria University of Wellington. Fluent in Chinese and with experience living in Shanghai and Beijing, his research focuses on China's non-material international security dynamics, including cultural diplomacy, propaganda, and ideological strategies to manage global information flows. His expertise includes Chinese soft power, the role of ideology in foreign policy, and the intersection of domestic political cohesion with international security objectives. He teaches undergraduate and master's courses on China's domestic and international politics. Current postgraduate researchers under his supervision are Jinru Huang, Yanyu Lu, and Hengfeng Zhao. Edney's research outputs span topics like public perceptions of China in the Anglosphere, Chinese youth nationalism, and environmental governance. His work often bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of China's evolving global engagement strategies. He maintains active academic engagement through platforms like Google Scholar and ORCID.
Dr. Ben Coulson is a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science. His research sits at the intersection of critical International Relations, history, and critical geopolitics, with a primary focus on the historical development of US-China relations from the mid-19th century to present. Education: PhD in International Relations, Newcastle University Research examines contemporary US foreign policy in East Asia, East Asian security dynamics, and the relationship between popular culture and politics. He teaches courses on Politics in a Changing World, Geopolitics, and Sport and Politics. Current work investigates how geopolitical discourses shape US-China relations across different historical periods, analyzing continuity and change in bilateral relations through critical theoretical frameworks.
Karl Gustafsson is a Professor at Stockholm University within the Department of Economic History and International Relations. His work bridges security studies , collective memory , and digital research methods in international relations. Current Role: Professor of International Relations, Stockholm University Previous Positions: Post-Doc at Lund University, Researcher at Swedish Institute of International Affairs Visiting Appointments: University of Tokyo, Osaka University, Keio University, Academia Sinica, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Research Focus: Karl specializes in memory politics , ontological security , and anxiety-driven international dynamics , particularly in Sino-Japanese relations and digital platforms . His studies explore how historical narratives and online memory construction influence state identity and policy. Awards & Grants: Recipient of the Wang Gungwu Prize (2014) and Stockholm University Association’s award (2011). Holds Swedish Research Council and Marianne & Marcus Wallenberg Foundation grants for projects on apologies in international politics and digital memory in East Asia . Publications: His work appears in journals such as International Studies Quarterly , European Journal of International Relations , and Memory Studies , addressing topics like narrative power in East Asia, anxiety’s role in policy change , and digital humanities applications in IR.
Avery Goldstein is the David M. Knott Professor Emeritus of Global Politics and International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania’s Political Science Department. He serves as the Inaugural Director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary China and Associate Director of the Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics. His research focuses on international relations theory, strategic/security studies, and Chinese politics, with a particular emphasis on China’s grand strategy, US-China relations, and security dynamics in East Asia. Goldstein’s academic career includes seminal works such as Rising to the Challenge: China’s Grand Strategy and International Security (2005) and Deterrence and Security in the 21st Century (2000). He has authored over 30 journal articles in top-tier publications like International Security and International Organization , exploring themes ranging from nuclear deterrence to China’s geopolitical ambitions. Additionally, he is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), amplifying his influence in policy-relevant scholarship. His research consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, addressing critical issues such as power transitions, crisis instability, and the implications of China’s rise for global order. Goldstein’s advisory roles and institutional leadership reflect his dual commitment to academic rigor and real-world policy engagement.
Dr. Soohyun Lee is a Senior Lecturer in Korean and East Asian Political Economy at King's College London, based in the Department of European & International Studies within the School of Politics & Economics. She holds a BSc from Ewha Womans University (South Korea), an MSc from the London School of Economics, and a DPhil from the University of Oxford. Affiliations: European Politics and Society Research Group King’s Korea Initiative Her research focuses on the comparative political economy of welfare states, particularly in East Asia and Europe, with an emphasis on labor market dualization, social policy reforms, and family policies. She has explored how countries address welfare challenges and the conditions for successful welfare state reforms. Her work has been published in leading journals such as World Politics , Comparative Political Studies , and Journal of Contemporary Asia . Dr. Lee teaches courses on the political economy of East Asian development, welfare state models, and capitalism. She supervises PhD students on topics related to welfare states, labor markets, and East Asian political economy. Grants & Projects: Learning to Reform the Welfare State and Labour Market: Korean Labour Market and Social Policy-Making in Comparative Perspective (Korea Foundation, 2020–2022) Welfare Reform and Social Progress in South Korea: Effective Social Policies for a Low-Fertility and Ageing Society (Korea Foundation, 2019–2020) Welfare States in Transition: International Policy Lessons for South Korea (Korea Foundation, 2018–2019) Recent News & Events: Her work on economic insecurity and right-wing populism was highlighted in news outlets (2024). Contributed to discussions on fertility and job security (2023). Presented at the SASE Annual Conference (2022).
Susan L. Burns is a Professor at the University of Chicago, where she holds appointments in the Department of History, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and The College. She currently serves as Department Chair and Chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Education: PhD, University of Chicago (1994) Her research focuses on Japan’s nineteenth-century social history, emphasizing intellectual and cultural practices, the intersection of medicine and public health, gender analysis, and legal discourses. She explores continuities between Japan’s early modern and modern eras, particularly how medical and legal frameworks shaped national identity. Recent publications span leprosy’s impact on citizenship, the rise of medical marketplaces, and gendered dimensions of reproductive health. Her digital humanities work on Mapping Medical Tokyo integrates GIS and text mining for historical analysis. Scientific Awards: Fulbright-Hays Fellowship IIE Fulbright Japan Foundation Japan Society for the Promotion of Science National Endowment for the Humanities She has secured grants for research on medical commodities, psychiatric practices, and the spatial dimensions of Meiji-era health policies. Her courses include Gender and Japanese History and Medicine and Culture in East Asia .
Dr. Jeni Mitchell is a Lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, affiliated with the School of Security Studies under the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. She specializes in future war studies, space security, and the evolution of rebellion, serving as co-director of the Future Threats Lab within the Centre for Science & Security Studies. Her work emphasizes human-centric approaches to analyzing existential threats and their societal impacts. Her education includes a PhD from King’s College London, where her doctoral research focused on civilian victimization by non-state armed groups. She has held positions at Chatham House, the Brookings Institution, and the Middle East Institute. Teaching responsibilities include MA modules on future warfare, spacepower, and insurgency, while she also directs the MA International Relations and War program. Mitchell’s research explores future threat perceptions (particularly in space), futures research methodologies, and the intersection of war, genocide, and utopian ideologies. Her methodological innovations, termed ‘future-crafting,’ employ creative formats like films and games to model conflict scenarios. Notable collaborations include work with the Freeman Air and Space Institute and King’s Wargaming Network. Recent publications address Ukraine’s apocalyptic imaginary, space-based threat analysis, and refugee-warrior dynamics. Her research group activities include the Environmental Security research group and contributions to widening participation initiatives like the 2024 Summer School in international security.
Andrew Kydd serves as Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he has held a faculty position since 2007 after teaching at UC Riverside and Harvard University. His research employs game-theoretic frameworks to analyze critical international security challenges including proliferation, terrorism, and strategic conflict resolution. Educational background: Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Chicago (1996) M.A. in Political Science, University of Chicago (1990) B.A. in Philosophy, Princeton University (1987) His scholarly focus spans armed conflict, genocide, political violence, weapons of mass destruction, and terrorism, with significant contributions to understanding trust dynamics in international relations. Kydd has published extensively in premier journals including American Political Science Review , International Organization , and International Security , establishing himself as a leading formal theorist in security studies. His 2015 publications demonstrate continued engagement with strategic aspects of global politics, examining Korean unification negotiations and advancing game-theoretic methodologies for international relations theory. Recognition: 2006 Conflict Processes Best Book Award for Trust and Mistrust in International Relations Kydd maintains an active teaching portfolio covering International Relations Theory, Nuclear Weapons and Politics, Terrorism, and Conflict Resolution courses while supervising senior honors theses, reflecting his dual commitment to research excellence and student mentorship.
M Ramesh is a Professor and UNESCO Chair on Social Policy Design in Asia at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy , National University of Singapore. He has held academic leadership roles as Founding Head of the Department of Asian and Policy at the Hong Kong Institute of Education, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Hong Kong, and Chair of the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney. Education : PhD (University of British Columbia, 1989), MA (University of Saskatchewan, 1983), BA (Patna University, 1979) Research Focus : Public policy processes, governance in Asia, health policy, social protection, and education policy Editorial Roles : Founder/Editor of Policy and Society , Policy Design and Practice , and Cambridge Elements in Public Policy Ramesh’s research explores policy and governance design in Asian contexts, particularly healthcare , social protection , and education policy . His work analyzes decentralization , governance failures , and policy capacity through comparative studies across China, India, Thailand, and Southeast Asia. He examines healthcare reforms , social security systems , and public-private dynamics in policy implementation. His recent publications highlight decentralization challenges in China, health policy tools in India, and innovative policy mixes in Singapore. Ramesh also investigates legitimation strategies and capacity deficits in modern governance. Courses Taught : Asian Pacific Politics, Comparative Public Policy, Economic and Social Policies in East Asia, Globalisation and Public Policy, Government and Business, International Political Economy, Public Policy: Introduction, Social Policy: Issues and Options, World Politics. Editorial Boards : American Review of Public Administration, Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, Global Governance, Social Science and Medicine (2010–2015), and others.
Anupama Rao is Professor of History and MESAAS (Institute for Comparative Literature and Society) at Columbia University, with affiliations in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Human Rights. She is based at Barnard College, where she holds office hours and engages in interdisciplinary teaching and research. Her educational background includes a B.A. with honors from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. from the Interdepartmental Program in Anthropology and History at the University of Michigan. Rao’s research spans South Asian history and anthropology , gender and sexuality studies , caste and race , social theory , comparative urbanism , and colonial genealogies of human rights . She is known for her groundbreaking work on anti-caste thought, particularly the political philosophy of B. R. Ambedkar, and for theorizing caste subalternity in modern India. Her scholarship critically examines the intersections of caste, gender, urban space, and political subjectivity. Her recent and ongoing publications reflect a deep engagement with global racisms, Cold War humanism, and justice futures. Key themes across her articles include Dalit aesthetics, subaltern urbanism, affirmative action, and the transnational dimensions of caste. Her work shows a consistent trend toward interdisciplinary, postcolonial, and decolonial frameworks that challenge Western-centric epistemologies. Fellow-in-Residence, National Humanities Center (2008–2009) Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford (2010–2011) Fellow, REWORK, Humboldt University, Berlin (2014–2015) Global Humanities Institute Awardee, CHCI (2023) Rao has served as Senior Editor of Comparative Studies in South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East (2012–2021), President of the Society for the Advancement of the History of South Asia (SAHSA), and member of the South Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies. She is Principal Investigator for the Mellon-funded Global Humanities Institute project Global Racisms, Cold War Humanism, and Just Futures (2022–2024) and co-directs Geographies of Injustice at Columbia’s Center for the Study of Social Difference. She has secured major research grants from the ACLS, NEH, SSRC, and Mellon Foundation. She advises and mentors graduate students, though specific names are not listed in the text. Rao directs the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society and convenes the Ambedkar Initiative, fostering interdisciplinary research and public engagement on caste, race, and justice. She leads and participates in multiple research collectives, including the Geographies of Injustice project and the Asian Spatialities initiative. She is deeply involved in institutional leadership through her roles at the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society and the Ambedkar Initiative, both of which serve as hubs for critical humanities research.
Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyUnited States
Nick Kapur is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Rutgers University–Camden, within the School of Arts and Sciences. He specializes in modern Japan and East Asia, with a focus on transnational perspectives, US-Japan relations, environmental history, gender, and cultural studies including literature and film. His educational background includes a Ph.D. from Harvard University (2011), an M.A. from Stanford University (2003), and a B.A. from Stanford University (2002). Kapur's research examines the intersections of political economy, culture, and international relations in modern Japan, particularly in the postwar era. His acclaimed book, Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo (2018), analyzes the 1960 protests and their lasting impact on Japanese society and US-Japan relations. He has also published extensively on the Japanese student movement, environmental policy, and Meiji centennial celebrations. His recent and forthcoming articles reflect a sustained engagement with Cold War Japan, dissent, nationalism, and transnational history. Kapur is known for innovative teaching methods, including historical simulations on Pearl Harbor and samurai-era Japan. He is the founder of the Modern Japan History Association and has contributed significantly to digital humanities through projects like the Digital Archive of Japan’s 2011 Disasters and the development of educational apps. His publications from the past decade show a consistent focus on political protest, cultural memory, and international relations in 20th-century Japan. His scholarly contributions include numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, translations, and book reviews in leading journals such as Diplomatic History , The Journal of Asian Studies , and The Asia-Pacific Journal . Kapur advises graduate students and teaches courses on Japanese, Chinese, and Korean history, World War II, and environmental history. He has played a leadership role in promoting Japanese studies globally and continues to be an active researcher with works forthcoming in 2025. His current projects include digital applications for historical education.
Professor Roel Sterckx is the Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science, and Civilization at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with Clare College. He specializes in pre-imperial and early imperial Chinese thought, classical Chinese language, and natural history. His research bridges anthropology and the history of science, focusing on topics like ritual, economic thought, and animal studies. He has authored influential books including Food, Sacrifice, and Sagehood in Early China and Animals through Chinese History . Sterckx is a Fellow of the British Academy (since 2013) and holds leadership roles at the Needham Research Institute. He supervises PhD students on subjects ranging from Warring States rhetoric to Han Dynasty apocrypha. Education: BA/PGCE in Sinology and History, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Masters in Classical Chinese and Philosophy, National Taiwan University PhD in Chinese History, University of Cambridge Research Interests: Early Chinese cultural ecology, ritual economy, and the interplay of moral and material values. His work analyzes texts like the Rites of Zhou , Mozi , and Huainanzi , emphasizing agricultural thought and animal symbolism. Awards: British Academy Fellowship (2013) Grants and Labs: Directs the Cambridge-based Needham Research Institute, focusing on East Asian science and technology history. Current projects include studies on Han perceptions of southern regions and the economics of ritual in early China.
Roles & Affiliations: Daniel J. Jacob is the Vasco McCoy Family Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Engineering at Harvard University. He leads the Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, part of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. He has held academic ranks including Gordon McKay Professor (1994-2004) and Associate/Assistant Professor (1991-1994), and was a postdoc at Harvard (1985-1987). Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Science from Caltech (1985), Ingenieur Chimiste from École Supérieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles (1981), and earlier studies at Lycee du Parc (Lyon). Research Interests: Jacob's work focuses on atmospheric chemistry, climate modeling, and air quality. Key areas include methane emissions, tropospheric ozone, satellite remote sensing, and global biogeochemical cycles. His research integrates field campaigns (e.g., SEAC4RS, ARCTAS) and chemical transport models (GEOS-Chem) to address environmental challenges like pollution and climate change. Publications & Awards: Jacob has authored over 550 peer-reviewed publications, with an H-index of 145 (ISI) and 184 (Google Scholar). Notable awards include the Haagen-Smit Prize (2010), Macelwane Medal (1994), and recognition for teaching and climate science leadership. His work on methane emissions and air quality has been featured in Nature , Science , and AGU journals. Grants & Advising: Jacob advises numerous PhD students and postdocs, many of whom hold academic or research roles globally. He leads international initiatives like the Carbon Mapper project and chairs committees for NASA and the National Academies. His grants support studies on methane detection, aerosol chemistry, and climate policy. Labs & Collaborations: The Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group collaborates with NASA, NOAA, and institutions worldwide. Key projects include the GEOS-Chem model, TROPOMI satellite inversion analyses, and the Integrated Methane Inversion (IMI) tool for emissions monitoring.
Todd H. Hall is a Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford's Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) and a Tutorial Fellow in Politics at St Anne's College. He directs the University of Oxford China Centre and holds affiliations with the International Relations Network and the Centre for International Studies (CIS). His research focuses on international relations theory, emotional dimensions of diplomacy, and Chinese foreign policy, with particular emphasis on Sino-Japanese relations and East Asian security dynamics. Education: PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago (2008). Postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton and Harvard Universities, and visiting scholar appointments at Free University of Berlin, Tsinghua University, and University of Tokyo. Research interests include the role of emotions in international politics, China's foreign policy, and the historical parallels between early 20th-century European tensions and contemporary East Asian geopolitics. His award-winning book *Emotional Diplomacy* (2015) explores how states strategically deploy emotion in international relations. Recent publications analyze Huawei's 5G policy dilemmas, China's Belt and Road Initiative, and dispute escalation mechanisms. He advises on East Asian security, including repeated tensions in the South China Sea and Sino-Japanese territorial disputes. Awards include the ISSA 2016 Diplomatic Studies Book Award. Active in policy commentary, his op-eds address Taiwan Strait tensions, China's diplomatic rhetoric, and historical memory conflicts. Labs/Teams: Leads the Oxford China Centre's research initiatives on modern Chinese diplomacy and emotional geopolitics. Collaborates with institutions like the National University of Singapore and Missouri S&T on East Asian security studies.
Professor Astrid Nordin holds the Lau Chair of Chinese International Relations at King's College London's Lau China Institute, within the School of Global Affairs. Previously, she was a Professor and Director at Lancaster University's China Centre. Her research bridges Chinese studies and critical international relations, focusing on relational theories and China's global role. Key areas include Chinese foreign policy, surveillance technologies, and decolonial approaches. Education: Peking University, Jilin University, City University Hong Kong, University of Warwick, University of Manchester Research Interests: Chinese world order concepts, relational approaches, critical social theory, and ontology of war. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, impacting policy, media, and cultural sectors. Notable projects include the 'Chinese Anger Diplomacy' study and the 'ESRC IAA: Community-led support for overseas Chinese' initiative. She co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Social Futures (2021) and contributes to public discourse on China's global influence. Awards: KingsCAT Tool Development (2024) alongside interdisciplinary team.
