Lisa Vanhala

Professor Lisa Vanhala is a distinguished academic at University College London, where she serves as Professor of Political Science, Deputy Head of the Department of Political Science, and Pro-Vice Provost for the Grand Challenge Theme of the Climate Crisis. Her interdisciplinary work bridges political science, law, and sociology with a focus on climate change governance and human rights.

Professor Vanhala's educational background includes:

• DPhil and MPhil in Politics from the University of Oxford
• Undergraduate studies at McGill University and Sciences Po Paris

Her research interests span the intersection of political science, law, and sociology, with particular expertise in climate change governance, human rights law, and legal mobilization. Professor Vanhala has made significant contributions to understanding climate change loss and damage, disability rights, and the mobilization of law in social movements. Her methodological approach emphasizes qualitative research methods, and she has developed innovative frameworks for analyzing climate governance across multiple scales. Her current research focuses on the policies and politics of climate change loss and damage from the UN to the local level.

Professor Vanhala's extensive publication record demonstrates a clear evolution in focus from disability rights activism to climate change governance, particularly the politics of loss and damage. Her recent work shows increasing engagement with practical policy implementation and the operationalization of international climate agreements at national and local levels. She has established herself as a leading scholar in the field of climate change litigation and the political dynamics of loss and damage mechanisms.

Professor Vanhala has received significant recognition for her work:

• Prize for her book 'Making Rights a Reality? Disability rights Activists and Legal Mobilization'
• British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship
• ESRC Future Research Leaders Fellowship
• European Research Council Starting Grant

She serves on the editorial boards of prestigious journals including Law & Society Review, Law & Policy, and Environmental Politics. Professor Vanhala regularly consults for UN agencies, philanthropic foundations, and non-governmental organizations, translating her academic expertise into practical policy applications. Her international collaborations include visiting professorships at École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris, University of California Berkeley, the European University Institute, and Université Catholique de Louvain.