Johns Hopkins SAIS names energy policy expert Johannes Urpelainen the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Professor of Energy, Resources, and Environment
The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) has named energy policy expert Johannes Urpelainen the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Professor of Energy, Resources, and Environment. He will also serve as the Founding Director of the Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP).
“It is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Johannes Urpelainen to the Johns Hopkins SAIS faculty,” Dean Vali Nasr said. “Dr. Urpelainen is leading scholar of environmental policy, and its implications for climate change. As he pursues research to find effective solutions to energy poverty, he will lead a critical discussion at Johns Hopkins SAIS and among the policy community on how to shape sustainable environmental policies that benefit humanity. We welcome him to the Energy, Environment, and Resources Program, which will benefit immensely from his involvement in both academic and policy dialogues on sustainability.”
As the director of ISEP, Urpelainen oversees the vision, strategy, and general management of the initiative, which offers pragmatic but effective approaches to providing the world’s population with affordable and abundant energy at minimal environmental impact.
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins SAIS, Urpelainen was an Associate and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University for eight years. He has also held visiting positions at Princeton University, Aalto University, and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. His research focuses on environmental policy, energy poverty, and international cooperation, and international institutions with a goal to find effective solutions to crises of sustainability at the global, national, and local levels.
Urpelainen has authored several books including the forthcoming Renewables: The Politics of a Global Energy Transition (MIT Press, January 2018), and more than 100 articles on environmental politics, energy policy, and global governance. As one of the world’s top energy policy experts, he frequently advises governments, international organizations, and the private sector on energy and the environment.
He received his PhD in Political Science from the University of Michigan, and masters and bachelor degrees from the University of Tampere in Finland.
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About Johns Hopkins SAIS
A division of Johns Hopkins University, the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) is a global institution that offers students an international perspective on today's critical issues. For nearly 75 years, Johns Hopkins SAIS has produced great leaders, thinkers, and practitioners of international relations. Public leaders and private sector executives alike seek the counsel of the faculty, whose ideas and research inform and shape policy. Johns Hopkins SAIS offers a global perspective across three campus locations: Bologna, Italy; Nanjing, China; and Washington, D.C. The school’s interdisciplinary curriculum is strongly rooted in the study of international economics, international relations, and regional studies, preparing students to address multifaceted challenges in the world today.
For more information, visit sais-jhu.edu or @SAISHopkins
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