PhD in Sustainability Science
Current position: Assistant Professor at University of Tokyo, Japan
Research focus: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), resilience, water-energy-food nexus, trade, water, and energy networks, big-data for sustainable development
Ali´s work contributes to bridging the gaps between science and policy-making, which are often major barriers to sustainable development. Ali has made several research visits to countries including the United States of America, Russia, Austria, and Germany. He also held the post of Research Assistant at the Advanced Systems Analysis Group, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria.
2015 World Social Science Fellow Award, International Social Science Council
CV as submitted for the Green Talents award (2013):
University of Tokyo, Japan
Research focus: mapping out and researching sustainability in numbers (quantitative research)
Ali Kharrazi has built up an impressive academic track-record, moving from economics to sustainability. He has set himself the challenging task of trying to concretise sustainability in numbers, an important piece of the puzzle that is sustainable living.
When one thinks of sustainability ideas concerning efficient water irrigation systems, cutting back on plastic usage, or even using less fossil fuels come to mind. However, an often overlooked part of sustainability is determining, in exact numbers, what sustainability is and how ‘sustainable’ sustainability is in the long-term. Ali Kharrazi has set himself the task of determining just that. As he mentions: “One of the main limitations within the field of sustainability science is the lack of a strong computational branch which is able to guide policy and decision-making.” More precisely, Kharrazi is looking to “guide policymaking” and bring his chosen field of sustainability science into the foreground, in a clear voice so everyone can understand it.
Kharrazi is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Graduate School of Public Policy of the University of Tokyo. His research interests include sustainability science, data-intensive research, ecological economics, and science technology and society. Kharrazi holds a PhD in Sustainability Science from The University of Tokyo's Graduate Program in Sustainability Science.
The jury was deeply impressed by Kharrazi’s outstanding academic career which is for instance reflected in the scholarships he received. The jury particularly emphasized his research focus on the quantification of sustainability and resilience which is a key concept in sustainability research. Kharrazi’s work contributes to bridging the gaps between science and policy making which are often seen as a major barrier to sustainable development.
