Jessica Budds

Prof. Jessica Budds is a Professor of Geography at the University of Bonn, affiliated with the Department of Geography. She holds a MA (Hons) from the University of Glasgow, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and a DPhil from the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on socio-ecological change, environmental governance, and development in the Global South, particularly in Latin America. She co-edits the Journal of Latin American Geography and advocates for decolonial research practices.

Her work examines water resources management, extractive industries, and urban infrastructure. Notable projects include studies on Chilean water markets, mining impacts in Peru, and avocado production’s water use. She has contributed to conceptual frameworks like the 'hydrosocial cycle' and critiques of market-based environmental solutions.

Prof. Budds also holds a Senior Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy and serves on multiple editorial and advisory boards, including Environment and Urbanization and the Water Security & Sustainable Development Hub. Her recent articles address urban water security, infrastructure maintenance, and climate adaptation strategies in Ethiopia and India.

Teaching focuses on development, environment, and qualitative methods, emphasizing experiential learning and internationalization. She advises doctoral students on socio-ecological topics and has published widely on water governance, political ecology, and interdisciplinary environmental studies.