Pedro Gabriel Silva

Pedro Gabriel Silva is an Assistant Professor at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD). He holds a BA in Anthropology from ISCTE-IUL (1996), a DEA and PhD in Contemporary Studies from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2011), and a dual PhD in Social Work from ISCTE-IUL (Portugal) and the University of Jyväskylä (Finland) via co-tutelle (2023). His research focuses on socio-environmental conflicts, environmental justice, social movements, refugee reception policies, and the history of social work. He has conducted visiting research at UC Berkeley’s Institute of European Studies (2006) and the University of Roskilde’s Department of Environmental, Social & Spatial Change (2011).

• Education Highlights:
• B.A. Anthropology, ISCTE-IUL, 1996
• DEA/PhD Contemporary Studies, University of Santiago de Compostela, 2011
• PhD Social Work (co-tutelle), ISCTE-IUL & University of Jyväskylä, 2023
• Key Research Projects (2013–2023):
• SYMBIOS: Demographic Crises & Livable Territories (Galician/EU, 2013–2017)
• MINECO: Mining Externalities in Iberia (Spanish Government, 2015–2017)
• PIMA: Environmental Monitoring Program (EDP, 2015–2022)
• INTEGRURAL: Rural Resilience Education (EU Erasmus+, 2021–2023)

His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary social issues, emphasizing radical social work practices in revolutionary contexts and systemic challenges in refugee integration. He leads the Territorial Transitions & Wellbeing (T2WELL) research group, focusing on socio-ecological transitions in marginal regions.

Key contributions include analyzing Portuguese social workers’ roles during the 1974 revolution, comparative studies on refugee policies in Portugal and Finland, and transnational social movement dynamics. His research often intersects with participatory methodologies and critical policy analysis.