Liz Koslov

Liz Koslov is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. Her research focuses on climate change adaptation, environmental justice, and urban political ecology, with a particular emphasis on 'managed retreat' strategies in coastal zones. She holds a Ph.D. in media, culture, and communication from New York University, an MSc in culture and society from the London School of Economics, and a BA in communication, Spanish, and Latin American literature from George Washington University.

• Education:
• Ph.D., Media, Culture, and Communication (NYU)
• MSc, Culture and Society (LSE)
• BA, Communication/Spanish/Latin American Literature (GWU)

Her work examines how cities respond to climate threats like sea-level rise and extreme weather, emphasizing ethical and equitable approaches to climate adaptation. Her book project, Retreat: Moving to Higher Ground in a Climate-Changed City, analyzes post-Hurricane Sandy resettlement efforts in New York City. Her research has been featured in Scientific American, The New Yorker, and other major outlets.

Recent publications explore legal contradictions in climate resettlement, the psychological stress of post-disaster rebuilding, and the sociological dimensions of climate silence. Her work often bridges urban planning, environmental ethics, and ethnographic methods to advocate for socially just climate policies.

Previously, Koslov served as a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Humanities at MIT. She currently advises on climate adaptation strategies and contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on urban resilience.