Andrea Pia

Andrea Pia is a Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics (LSE), specializing in legal and environmental anthropology with a focus on China. Her research intersects environmental humanities, decolonial political theory, and the critical study of the commons. She has conducted extensive ethnographic work in China, examining water crises, environmental migration, and grassroots collective action. Pia is affiliated with LSE's Department of Anthropology and leads initiatives such as the Global China Lab and the Made in China Journal. She advocates for open-access scholarship and has organized workshops on academic integrity and public anthropology.

Her research focuses on China’s environmental policies, rural water management, and the interplay between law, dissent, and sustainability. Notable projects include Cutting the Mass Line (2024) and Justice After Carbon, exploring climate politics and energy transitions. Pia’s work bridges academic rigor with public engagement, including digital ethnographies like The Long Day of Young Peng and contributions to policy debates on open-access publishing.

• Research Areas: Environmental Anthropology, Chinese Studies, Climate Justice, Legal Anthropology
• Awards: APLA Prize Paper (2016), QS Education Award Shortlist (2023)
• Key Projects: Global China Lab, Made in China Journal, Justice After Carbon