Harris Ali

Harris Ali is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at York University, affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the Faculty of Environmental Studies. He holds a PhD in Sociology from McMaster University and a BEng in Materials Engineering. His research focuses on global climate change, environmental health, sociology of risk, disasters, infectious diseases, environmental management, and environmental justice. He leads the Infectious Disease Research initiative and has contributed to critical studies on Ebola outbreak responses in West Africa and urban health vulnerabilities. His work bridges sociological analysis with environmental and public health challenges, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to address global risks and sustainable development.

Education: PhD (Sociology), McMaster University; BEng (Materials), McMaster University.

Research highlights include examining community-based responses to epidemics, postcolonial riskscapes in health crises, and the intersection of urbanization with disease dynamics. He has published extensively on environmental justice, disaster risk management, and the sociological dimensions of infectious diseases. His recent articles explore topics ranging from AI in cybersecurity to wheat resilience under climate stress.

Professional activities include advising on environmental policies and collaborating on interdisciplinary projects spanning sociology, ecology, and public health. His current focus includes pandemic urbanism, climate change adaptation, and equitable resource management strategies.