Nik Janos is Professor of Sociology at California State University, Chico. In 2012, he earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz. His work combines geography, environmental studies, and history. In particular, he examines the intersection of urbanization and ecological crisis by exploring how capitalism, governance practices, and technology shape these crises. His research sites have been post-Katrina New Orleans and Superfund clean-up on the Duwamish River in Seattle, WA. He also spends a considerable amount of time understanding, and advocating for, the low-carbon energy transition. He is currently working on a book that seeks to understand the future of hydroelectric power in the Pacific Northwest. His co-edited book Urban Cascadia and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice (2021) is about the massive transformations of a region brought by capitalist urbanization and how numerous people, organizations, and institutions are grappling with these changes and attempting to build a more just and democratic region. Learn more: https://www.urbancascadia.com
Publications:
Janos, Nik and Corina McKendry. (October 2021). Urban Cascadia and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice. University of Washington Press. Buy book.
Janos, Nik. (2021). “The Making of Urban Cascadia: Extending Urbanization Through Airplanes, Software, and Infrastructure.” In Janos, N. And C. McKendry (Eds.), Urban Cascadia and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.
Janos, Nik and Corina McKendry. (2021). “Drawing the Thin Green Line: Throwing a wrench in carbon commodity chains.” In Janos, N. And C. McKendry (Eds.), Urban Cascadia and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.
Janos, Nik. (2018). Urbanising territory: The contradictions of eco-cityism at the industrial margins, Duwamish River, Seattle. Urban Studies, 57(11), 2282–2299. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098018797284
McKendry, Corina and Nik Janos. (2015). “Greening the Industrial City: Equity, Environment, and Economic Growth in Seattle and Chicago.” International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics 1–16.
Janos, Nik and Corina McKendry. (2014). “Globalization, Governance, and Re-Naturing the Industrial City: Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA.” Pp. 1–36 in, edited by S. Curtis.
Janos, Nik. (2012). “Blinded by Science: The Allure of the Technological Fix After Hurricane Sandy.” Grist. https://grist.org/business-technology/blinded-by-science-the-allure-of-the-technological-fix-after-hurricane-sandy/
Media Appearances:
New Day Northwest, Seattle’s only daily morning show. Corina and I discuss Urban Cascadia and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Guv2Jk6omWk
Sociology Ruins podcast. I critique the film Don’t Look Up. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sociology-ruins-everything/id1573416339?i=1000550066561
Course taught:
Environmental Sociology
Wealth and Inequality
Global Problems
Classical Social Theory
Public Sociology
Food Justice
The Politics of Sustainability