Dr Adrian Gonzalez
Senior Lecturer in Sustainability Director of Learning and Teaching (Department of Environment and Geography)

Profile

Biography

Adrian joined the Department of Environment and Geography in March 2021 as a Lecturer in Sustainability having previously worked as an Associate Lecturer in Human Geography and Environment in 2018-19. He has also held a Human Geography and Planning (Environment) Lectureship at the School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, awarded through the prestigious “Darlithwyr Disglair” (Brilliant Lecturers) scheme for early career academics (2020-21) and has also taught at the University of East London and University of London (2018).

Adrian has an interdisciplinary academic background with degrees in History (De Montfort University), War Studies (King’s College London) and Human Geography (Royal Holloway, University of London). As a political geographer and more specifically a political ecologist, his research was initially focused on natural resource governance and conflict and environmental justice. Recently, he has moved his research into sustainability education encompassing pedagogical practice, operations and content (knowledge and skills) to understand and ensure that all students, at whatever level, leave with the necessary knowledge and skills to embrace and engage with sustainability.

Peer-reviewed research papers have appeared in journals including Teaching Geography, Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, Geoforum, Journal of Political Ecology and Development Policy Review. His papers can be found at ResearchGate and academia.edu and he has also written articles on his research for The Conversation.

Adrian has two major roles at York. Firstly, he  is Director of Learning and Teaching in the Department of Environment and Geography where projects have included the implementation of a substantial teaching restructure as well as sustainable business programme redesign. Secondly, he has also been appointed Strategic Lead for Sustainability on the development of the new Department for Architecture and Built Environment which will launch in September 2025.  Prior to this, other major roles have included leading the development of a new MSc programme in Sustainable Business: Leadership, Innovation and Management in partnership with Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Maastricht University, a degree subsequently revised to the MSc Sustainable Business, Environment and Society in 2023. 

Adrian is also a member of several institutional committees including the ESAY Community of Learning and Teaching Practice, the Architecture and Built Environment Programme Board and Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre (IGDC). He is also a member of international committees including the YMP Sustainability Advisory Group and SUBLIM Programme Board.

Externally, Adrian is a member of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS-IBG), the Geography and Education Research Group (GeogEd), Peru Support Group and is a Fellow of Advanced HE.      

Adrian can be found on Linkedin and Twitter.

Career

2023- : Senior Lecturer in Sustainability, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York.

2021-2023: Lecturer in Sustainability, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York.

2020-2021: Lecturer in Human Geography and Planning (Environment) as part of the “Darlithwyr Disglair” (Brilliant Lecturers) scheme, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University.

2018-19: Associate Lecturer in Human Geography and Environment, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York.

2018: Guest Lecturer, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Studies, University of London.

2017-2018: Hourly Paid Lecturer, Royal Docks School of Business and Law, University of East London.

2013-2017: PhD Human Geography. Thesis entitled: ‘Access, engagement, suppression, and empowerment: a political ecology of voice (PEV) study into Peruvian citizen ability and willingness to report Petroperu environmental pollution incidents.’ Supervised by Professor David Simon. Department of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London.

2008-2010: MA War Studies, King’s College London.

2005-2008: BA (Hons) History, De Montfort University.

University roles

September 2023- : Sustainability Strategic Lead for the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of York.

January 2023- : Academic Lead for the creation of an MSc “Dual Degree” route with Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Maastricht University (Department of Environment and Geography).

January 2023-August 2023: Academic Lead for the redesign of the MSc Sustainable Business: Leadership Innovation and Management programme (Department of Environment and Geography).

July 2022- : Director of Learning and Teaching (Department of Environment and Geography).

December 2021-July 2022: Deputy Director of Learning and Teaching (Department of Environment and Geography).

September 2021-September 2022: Deputy Chair, Exceptional Circumstances Committee (Department of Environment and Geography).

March 2021-July 2022: Programme Leader MSc Sustainable Business: Leadership, Innovation and Management (Department of Environment and Geography).