Dr Rachel O’Neill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her research focuses on gender and sexuality, media and cultural studies, and qualitative methods. She holds a PhD in Gender and Cultural Studies from King’s College London and previously served as a Research Fellow in Sociology at the University of Warwick. Academic Role: Assistant Professor, LSE Department of Media and Communications Research Expertise: Gender studies, media ethnography, feminist theory, wellness industry critique, and financial feminism Her work examines intersections of gender, capitalism, and cultural practices. Key publications include Seduction: Men, Masculinity and Mediated Intimacy (2018) and articles on wellness influencers, financial feminism, and masculinity studies. Her research often critiques patriarchal structures and neoliberal logics in contemporary society.
Jampel Dell'Angelo is an Associate Professor with ius promovendi in Water Governance and Politics at the Department of Environmental Policy Analysis, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He holds concurrent roles as a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley's Ecohydrology Lab, and an Environmental Governance Affiliate Scholar at SESYNC, Maryland. His research focuses on multilevel dimensions of water governance, climate adaptation in African irrigation systems, and transnational land investments' impacts. He leads the EU-funded NEWAVE project, coordinating 15 Early Stage Researchers across 10 institutions. Educated with a dual PhD in Environmental Science (Autonomous University of Barcelona) and International Cooperation (Sapienza University), he also holds advanced degrees from the LSE, Sapienza, Curtin, and the University of Siena. As Editor-in-Chief of World Development , he promotes interdisciplinary research on socio-environmental systems. His work contributes to UN SDGs related to clean water, sustainable cities, and responsible production. Research interests span water grabbing dynamics, socio-ecological resilience, and policy frameworks for equitable resource management. Recent projects address Mediterranean water scarcity solutions and the socio-political implications of global land rushes. He supervises PhD candidates exploring themes like water democracy, agrifood transitions, and environmental justice. Key contributions include pioneering analysis of 'water commons grabbing' and documenting the Global Water Grab Syndrome. His documentary work complements field research, such as Working Together: Research and Water Governance on Mount Kenya . Current projects emphasize innovative governance models and climate-resilient water management in transboundary contexts.
Dr. Xin Fan is a Teaching Professor in Modern Chinese History at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES). He also serves as a Fellow and Director of Studies at Lucy Cavendish College and Director of Studies at Robinson College. A global historian, Fan specializes in intellectual history, historiography, and worldviews of twentieth-century China. His research explores the intersections between foreign knowledge, nationalism, and knowledge production in non-Western contexts. He co-edits the SAGE Handbook of Interpreting Chinese History and has authored major works like Global History in China (2024) and World History and National Identity in China (2021). His current projects include studies on emotions and nationalism, as well as the global rise of higher education. Fan has taught at universities in Europe and the U.S., focusing on courses about Chinese cultural and historical contexts. His work bridges global and national perspectives, emphasizing how political consciousness shapes historical narratives. Education & Career: Fan has studied and worked in China, the U.S., Germany, and the UK. While formal academic credentials are not detailed, his career trajectory reflects extensive international scholarly engagement. Research Interests: Fan’s expertise spans intellectual history, nationalism, global historiography, and the sociology of knowledge. He examines how cultural and political conditions influence knowledge production in China, particularly regarding world history, emotional politics, and cross-cultural reception of antiquity. His work challenges Eurocentric frameworks and explores non-Western historiographical traditions. Publications: Fan has authored monographs, co-edited volumes, and published widely in journals such as Global Intellectual History and Contributions to the History of Concepts . His book reviews appear in prominent journals like Journal of Asian Studies and Frontiers of History in China . Teaching & Leadership: Fan teaches undergraduate courses on Chinese history and culture at AMES. He directs studies at two Cambridge colleges, fostering academic mentorship in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
Patrick Le Galès is a CNRS Research Professor at Sciences Po's Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE), where he contributes to research on urban governance, public policy, and European political sociology. He was the founding Dean of the Sciences Po Urban School (2015–2022) and remains an active faculty member, teaching and leading research groups on urban transformation and state restructuring. His research interests span urban sociology, comparative public policy, political economy, and the governance of European cities. He investigates themes such as financialization of housing, digital cities, urban inequalities, and the reconfiguration of the modern state. His work combines sociological and political science approaches to analyze how cities and states adapt to economic and social change. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on urban governance, state transformation, and European integration. These works span subfields including smart cities, policy instruments, metropolitan conflict, and institutional change, with keywords in political science, sociology, and urban studies. His research often adopts a comparative framework across European and global cities. Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) Member of Academia Europaea CNRS Silver Medal (2018) Stein Rokkan Prize (2002) Regional Studies Association Best Paper Award (2017) CNRS Bronze Medal (1996) GRALE CNRS Prize (1991) Mattei Dogan Foundation Award of Excellence (2007) Le Galès has supervised numerous PhD candidates and junior researchers, though specific advisees are not listed. He has led and participated in multiple funded research projects, including European, national, and international contracts. He has served on ERC panels and editorial boards of leading journals such as British Journal of Political Science , Socio-Economic Review , and European Urban and Regional Studies . He co-edits book series on Governance (Presses de Sciences Po) and Urban and Social Change (Wiley/Blackwell). He is involved in the 'Cities are back in town' and 'Restructuring the state' research groups at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics. He also contributes to the Transversal Seminars and thematic seminar series on urban and policy transformations. His ongoing project LAC-EU (2024–2028) explores Latin American challenges in the 21st century, expanding his comparative urban research globally.
Lyndsay Campbell is a Professor at the University of Calgary, cross-appointed between the Faculty of Law and the Department of History in the Faculty of Arts. Her work bridges Canadian and American legal history, comparative law, and constitutional studies. Ph.D., Jurisprudence and Social Policy, University of California, Berkeley (2008) Master of Law, University of British Columbia (1999) J.D., University of British Columbia (1995) M.A., English Literature, University of Toronto (1991) B.A., English Literature, University of British Columbia (1990) Campbell's research focuses on Canadian and American legal history , libel law , constitutionalism , and imperial legalities . Her work examines intersections between legal and extralegal regulatory strategies, comparative approaches to law, and 19th-century Canadian constitutionalism. Current projects include an edited collection on Legal Histories of Empire with Shaunnagh Dorsett. Her publications analyze legal histories of censorship , racial justice in law , and gender-related legal frameworks . Recent work includes the 2022 monograph Truth and Privilege and the 2020 co-edited open-access volume Canada’s Legal Past . Fellow, Constitutional Law and History Program, University of California, Berkeley (2008) William Nelson Cromwell Fellowship in Legal History (2007) Dean's Normative Time Fellowship, UC Berkeley (2004) Regents Intern Fellowship (2001) Osgoode Society Legal History Prize (1998) SSHRC doctoral fellowship (1997) Campbell teaches courses in Canadian and American history, legal theory, and the undergraduate Law and Society program. She previously practiced law in British Columbia and clerked for justices at the British Columbia Court of Appeal.
Richard Balme is a Professor at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE) at Sciences Po, specializing in environmental governance, EU-China relations, and public policy. He serves as Director of the Master in International Governance and Diplomacy at PSIA and the Executive Master in Development Policy and Management (Potentiel Afrique) at Sciences Po Executive Education. His research focuses on climate governance, biodiversity policy in the EU, and China's environmental administration. He is a Fellow at several institutions, including Hong Kong Baptist University and the Centre des Politiques de la Terre in Paris. His academic contributions span environmental policy transfers, EU-China energy dynamics, and institutional reforms in Francophone Africa. He has taught at Columbia, Tsinghua, and Fudan Universities and served on key French advisory councils. Balme's work bridges comparative politics, international relations, and environmental studies, with a focus on transnational policy frameworks and governance capacity. Research Themes: Climate policy implementation, EU-China environmental cooperation, authoritarian governance of environmental issues. Recent Activities: Convenor of Sciences Po's AIRE environmental research platform; editorial board member of Environmental Policy and Governance . Awards: Ranked first in France's national political science professor recruitment (1995), recipient of grants from EU, CNRS, and Hong Kong RGC. His publications analyze China's environmental policy evolution, EU climate diplomacy, and the intersection of soft power and human rights in Sino-European relations. He frequently engages in policy dialogues on water security, urbanization risks, and global climate governance.
Ian Ewart is an Associate Professor at the University of Reading's School of the Built Environment, serving as Head of Construction and Engineering Management and Research Group Lead for Organisation, People and Technology. He chairs the Research Ethics Committee since 2016 and supervises undergraduate/postgraduate dissertations. His academic journey spans engineering and anthropology: DPhil Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2007-2012) MSc Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2006-2007) BA (Hons) Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College (2003-2006) Diploma in Management Studies, University of the West of England (1990-1994) BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Staffordshire University (1983-1987) Ewart's research integrates ethnographic methods with digital technology studies, examining human-technology interactions in construction and domestic settings. His work bridges engineering practice and social anthropology, focusing on skill transmission, sustainable design, and multisensory experiences in virtual environments. Publications from 2025-2013 reveal a dominant trajectory in digital twins for socio-ecological sustainability, VR-based occupant behavior prediction, and HBIM for heritage conservation. The corpus demonstrates consistent cross-disciplinary innovation, merging archaeological reconstructions with healthcare applications while maintaining anthropological rigor. Key recognition: ESRC Future Research Leader fellowship (2013) for Designing Healthy Homes project He supervises PhD candidates like Afolabi Dania (Nigerian sustainable construction) and Joanna Hull (Heritage BIM), leveraging ESRC funding for ethnography-VR health studies. His grants emphasize participatory design and real-world impact assessment in built environments. Leaders the Organisation, People and Technology research group, developing multisensory Roman town reconstructions with sound/smell integration to advance archaeological and architectural experience modeling.
Seagh Kehoe is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Westminster's School of Humanities, joining in 2019. Previously, he taught at the University of Leicester, University of Nottingham, and University College Dublin. His research focuses on cultural dimensions of social and political transformation in modern China, particularly Chinese media representations of ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, nationalism, and military. He holds a BA from University College Cork, an MA from Leiden University, and a PhD from the University of Nottingham, with additional studies in Mandarin and Tibetan. His academic work spans journal articles in China Quarterly , positions , and Media, Culture & Society , as well as edited volumes like Cultural China . His research interests include Tibet-China relations, critical university studies, and abolition theory. He supervises undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations on diverse socio-political topics. Kehoe has presented at conferences such as the British Association of China Studies and contributed to workshops on decolonizing Chinese studies. His recent work examines temporal politics in post-2008 Tibet and queer cinema in China. Education: BA Chinese Studies & Sociology (University College Cork) MA East Asian Politics (Leiden University) PhD (University of Nottingham) Mandarin Studies (Sichuan University) Tibetan Studies (Rangjung Yeshe Institute) Grants & Labs: Active in the Contemporary China Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary research on modern China.
Susan Smith-Peter is a Professor of History at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, specializing in Russian history beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg. Her research focuses on regional identity, civil society development, and imperial governance in 19th-century Russia, with particular attention to Siberia and provincial dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. from Ohio University. Her work analyzes how Tsarist administrative frameworks fostered subnational identities through statistical bureaus, agricultural societies, and provincial newspapers. Notable contributions include *Imagining Russian Regions* (2018), which argues that autocracy’s civil society initiatives inadvertently fueled revolutionary movements. Her research has been supported by grants from the Fulbright Program, American Historical Association, and IREX. Professor Smith-Peter’s publications span journals like *Slavic Review* and *Kritika*, exploring topics from sugar beet industries to colonial Alaska. She has translated key texts into Russian and edited historical documents such as *The Great Republic Tested by the Touch of Truth*. She serves on campus committees and previously chaired Columbia University’s Seminar on Slavic History and Culture. Key Awards: Fulbright Fellowship, American Historical Association Grant, IREX Grant Grants: Fulbright-Hays Fellowship, University of Illinois Grant, CUNY Grant Her interdisciplinary approach bridges economic, cultural, and political history, emphasizing regional agency within imperial contexts. Ongoing projects explore Siberian historiography and the legacy of 19th-century provincial activism.
Alessandra Arcuri is Full Professor of International Economic Law at the Department of Law and Markets, Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and a member of the Erasmus Initiative on Inclusive Prosperity. Her academic leadership spans critical intersections of law, sustainability, and democratic governance within global economic frameworks. Her research interrogates the tensions between international economic law and planetary boundaries, focusing on how investment treaties constrain climate action through cases like Rockhopper v. Italy . She exposes how fossil fuel interests exploit legal mechanisms like the Energy Charter Treaty while analyzing glyphosate regulation failures and corporate influence on EU Green Deal implementation. Her work consistently challenges technocratic governance models that marginalize democratic participation in environmental decision-making. Recent scholarship reveals an intensified focus on supply-side climate policies, where investment law clashes with state efforts to phase out fossil fuels. She documents how tribunals prioritize investor protections over ecological imperatives, using Dutch river pollution cases to demonstrate states' international obligations to prevent toxic emissions. Her analysis of boundary-work in investment law reveals systemic exclusions of public interest perspectives. Scientific Awards: Jean Monnet Fellow (2011-12) Fernand Braudel Fellow (2021-22) Hauser Global Research Fellow (2003-04) Marie Curie Fellow (2001) Professor Arcuri supervises PhD candidates including Abdurrahman Erol, with whom she co-authored pivotal research on Dutch river degassing that directly influenced national policy banning toxic emissions from inland vessels. Her policy impact extends through commissioned reports for the Dutch Parliament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Commission, and NGOs, translating academic rigor into tangible regulatory change. She actively bridges scholarly critique with public advocacy, as seen in open letters correcting ministerial misinterpretations of environmental law. As a core contributor to the Erasmus Initiative on Inclusive Prosperity, she collaborates across disciplines to reconfigure economic governance toward ecological sustainability and democratic accountability, challenging the fossil fuel economy through legal innovation and grassroots empowerment.
Nancy Hirschmann is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Political Science. Her work focuses on political theory, disability rights, feminist theory, and the intersection of gender with public policy. A former Vice-President of the American Political Science Association, she has held leadership roles in academic institutions and research centers globally. Her research examines freedom through a disability lens, analyzing how bodily constraints shape political thought. Key contributions include *Gender, Class, and Freedom in Modern Political Theory* (2008) and *The Subject of Liberty* (2003), which won the 2004 Victoria Schuck Award. Hirschmann has held prestigious fellowships at the National Humanities Center, Stanford University, and Princeton University’s Institute for Advanced Study. Teaching spans modern political theory, feminist theory, and disability studies. She previously taught at Cornell University and Swarthmore College. Her recent projects include exploring disability’s role in citizenship and analyzing populism’s impact on democratic processes. Office hours are available via email despite sabbatical leaves. Education Background: Extensive academic career with prior roles at Cornell and Swarthmore before joining Penn in 2002. Research Interests: Disability theory, gender policy, political thought history, and public policy frameworks. Awards: 2004 Victoria Schuck Award for *The Subject of Liberty*. Grants & Fellowships: ACLS, National Humanities Center, Stanford Center for Advanced Study. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary groups on disability studies and feminist political theory.
Susan Robertson holds the Chair in Sociology of Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, where she serves as Director of the Doctoral Programme and Editor-in-Chief of Globalisation, Societies and Education . She joined Cambridge in 2016 after academic appointments at the University of Auckland and University of Bristol, bringing over three decades of international expertise in critical education studies. Her educational foundation includes doctoral research in Sociology/Policy at the University of Calgary (1990), preceded by professional experience in the Research Division of Western Australia's Ministry of Education. This trajectory established her cross-sectoral perspective on education systems and policy implementation. Robertson's research critically examines state-education relationships through governance frameworks that determine educational equity and outcomes. She investigates how global and regional actors mediate the social contract between states and citizens, with particular focus on geopolitical shifts, OECD influence, and neoliberal transformations in higher education. Her work bridges sociology, political economy, and decolonial perspectives to address social justice imperatives in education. Analysis of her 2024-2026 publications reveals sustained engagement with higher education geopolitics, digital transformation challenges, and global governance mechanisms. Key thematic clusters include critiques of OECD-driven policy frameworks, analyses of ordinal citizenship in education systems, and examinations of how digitalization reshapes university missions while exacerbating existing inequalities. As Director of the Doctoral Programme, Robertson oversees comprehensive PhD training while convening the Culture, Politics and Global Justice research cluster that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration on transnational education challenges. Her service on the ESRC funding council positions her at the nexus of research strategy and resource allocation in UK social sciences. The Culture, Politics and Global Justice cluster under her leadership functions as a dynamic hub for critical scholarship, hosting regular seminars and collaborative projects that connect Cambridge researchers with global partners to address emergent issues in education governance and social transformation.
Dr. Alison Braley-Rattai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Labour Studies at Brock University. Her research focuses on labour rights, employment law, and human rights in the workplace, with a particular emphasis on the intersection of labour policies and constitutional rights. She holds a PhD from the University of Western Ontario, an LLM from Osgoode Hall, an MA from York University, and a BA (Hons) from York University. Her work explores topics such as union responses to workplace mandates, constitutional challenges to back-to-work legislation, and the legal contours of academic freedom. She has published extensively on issues like the right to strike, pandemic-related labour policies, and the impact of political shifts on labour relations. Dr. Braley-Rattai’s scholarship bridges legal frameworks, policy analysis, and real-world labour dynamics. Her recent articles highlight trends in pandemic-era workplace policies, constitutional implications of labour disputes, and the evolving role of minority unionism. She actively contributes to debates on balancing employer obligations with worker rights, particularly in contexts like vaccination mandates and free speech directives.
Nicholas Mortimer is a Senior Lecturer in Design at Goldsmiths, University of London. He holds an MA in Design Interactions (Royal College of Art, 2013) and a BA in Fine Art Sculpture (University of Brighton, 2005). His work focuses on socially engaged design practices, reimagining historical performance traditions to address contemporary labor and societal issues. As co-founder of Post Workers Theatre (PWT), he explores workers’ theatre and creative resistance through collective writing, performance, and design. His research spans topics like gig economy critiques, housing privatization, and community activism, often blending performance, sound, and participatory methods. Education: MA Design Interactions, Royal College of Art, 2013 BA Fine Art Sculpture, University of Brighton, 2005 Research Interests: Performance as social critique Historical folk traditions and modern labor struggles Community-driven design practices Radical pedagogy and participatory methods Key Projects: Post Workers Theatre : Investigates politically engaged performance, addressing labor inequality through updated workers’ theatre forms. Autohoodening : Critiques Amazon labor practices via a reimagined midwinter ritual. Rave of the Ritualesque : Examines rave culture’s potential for collective resistance. Affiliations: Department of Design, Goldsmiths, University of London IASPIS (Swedish Arts Grants Committee) residency collaborations Labs/Teams: Post Workers Theatre collective Collaborations with institutions like Tate Liverpool, Luleå Arts and Crafts Biennale, and the Maidstone Museum
Hélène Charlery is a Lecturer in Anglophone Studies at the Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès, affiliated with the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS). She has held this academic position since 2008 and is actively engaged in research and scholarly activities. Her primary research interests center on intersectionality in American cinema and series , with a specific focus on Black American female directors and the representation of African American women in film and media. Her work critically examines the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in visual narratives. Her recent publications, including the 2024 journal issue Mainstreaming Intersectionality in Contemporary Cinema and Television which she co-edited, and articles on films by Dee Rees, Ava DuVernay, and Jordan Peele, demonstrate a consistent and evolving scholarly trajectory. Her research analyzes how contemporary films and television series negotiate complex social identities and political themes, particularly through the lens of Black feminism. Scientific Responsibilities Co-Secretary of the Society for the History of Women in the Americas (SHAW) Thesis Supervision Co-supervised the doctoral thesis of Mikael Toulza on Voodoo in North American audiovisual fiction. She has presented her research at numerous international conferences, contributing to academic discourse on gender, race, and representation in the English-speaking world.
