Michael Carolan

Dr. Michael Carolan is a Professor of Sociology and Food Systems & Food Security Specialist at Colorado State University (CSU), holding concurrent roles as Fulbright Research Chair in Food Security, Visiting Professor at Ruralis Research Institute (Norway), and Research Affiliate at the University of Otago (New Zealand). He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from Iowa State University. His research bridges environmental sociology, food systems, and agricultural policy, focusing on sustainability, equity, and socio-technical transitions. Dr. Carolan co-founded CSU’s Food Systems Institute and serves as Co-Editor for the Journal of Rural Studies and British Food Journal.

His expertise includes digital agriculture’s societal impacts, food justice, and the intersections of technology, labor, and ecological health. Notable works like A Decent Meal (2021) explore food systems as empathy-building tools. He frequently engages public audiences through media outlets like Market Watch, Smithsonian Magazine, and World Economic Forum, bridging academic and public discourse.

Dr. Carolan’s academic leadership extends to global collaborations, with research addressing climate change adaptation, rural-urban linkages, and critical analyses of ‘smart farming’ technologies. His awards include the 2022 getAbstract International Book Award. He actively critiques institutional barriers to collaborative sustainability research and advocates for inclusive, just food systems.

• Education: Ph.D. in Sociology, Iowa State University
• Affiliations: Ruralis Research Institute (Norway), University of Otago (New Zealand)
• Media Engagement: Columnist for The Conversation, frequent contributor to Bloomberg and Alternet

His research portfolio emphasizes ‘critical agrifood studies,’ interrogating how socio-technical systems shape food access, labor, and environmental outcomes. Recent work explores digital agriculture’s ethical dimensions, pandemic-driven dietary shifts, and rural well-being amid demographic changes.