Alex Jania

Alex Jania is a Lecturer in History at The University of Chicago, specializing in disaster studies, modern Japan, and global memory culture. His research examines how memorial practices shape responses to environmental hazards, with a focus on Japan's post-disaster memorials. He holds a PhD in History (2022) and degrees from The Ohio State University (M.A.) and Baylor University (B.A.).

Research interests include the intersection of environmental history, memory studies, and transnational history. His book project, Archipelago of Disaster, Archipelago of Memory, explores Japanese memorials to earthquakes, tsunamis, and the 2011 Fukushima disaster. He actively participates in public history initiatives like the Kizuna Project and Humans of Minamisanriku.

Articles analyze disaster memorialization in Japan and its applicability to global challenges like climate change. He advocates for inclusive pandemic memorials to address inequities in disaster preparedness. Awards include distinction for his UChicago PhD dissertation.

Public roles include serving as Master of Ceremonies for Kizuna 10: Inochi and contributing to disaster memory discussions on platforms like COVIDCalls. Current projects include a memorial for the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave victims, linking climate disasters to historical memory practices.