Mara Benadusi

I graduated with honors in Anthropology from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and earned a PhD in Anthropology of Complex Societies at the University of Catania. After a postdoctoral fellowship at CERCO (Center of Excellence in the Anthropology and Epistemology of Complexity), I began working as a researcher at the University of Bergamo in 2005 and later became an associate professor in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the University of Catania.

My research interests are primarily in environmental and disaster anthropology, and most recently climate change, both in Sri Lanka and Italy. I have been investigating the socio-ecological relationships tied to processes of jurisdiction over "nature" and biodiversity loss, as well as energy transitions in contexts still reliant on fossil fuels. Since 2022, as a member of the research team for the international project "RULING ON NATURE: Animals and the Environment before the Court” (more info here: https://rulnat.cnrs.fr/), I have been conducting ethnographic research in Sri Lanka on conflicts related to elephant protection and the legal demands for recognizing their personhood as sentient beings in court. Prior to this, I researched the risks associated with natural disasters, particularly in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Additionally, I have a keen interest in the anthropology of education, as well as the roles of religiosity and ritual in migration contexts.

Throughout my career, I have been a visiting scholar at several universities, such as Columbia University, Rutgers (the State University of New Jersey), Sciences Po, the Catholic University of Lyon, the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Chengdu University in China. Since 2018, I have been also involved with the European Research Council (ERC), initially as a member of the Evaluation Panel for the Consolidator Grant SH3 (The Social World and its Diversity), and later as panel chair, first for the SH3 panel and from 2024, for the SH8 panel (Studies of Cultures and Arts). Alongside serving on the scientific boards of various national and international journals, I am Co-Editor in Chief of Antropologia Pubblica (together with Marco Bassi).

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS:
At present, I am engaged in three strands of anthropological research through multidisciplinary collaborations: climate change, biodiversity restoration, and energy communities.

C-URGE: THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF GLOBAL CLIMATE URGENCY
The aim of this project is to deepen our understanding of and engagement with climate change by focusing on the concept of 'urgency.' Twelve doctoral candidates conduct ethnographic research across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe to explore diverse perceptions of environmental and climatological urgency, their temporal dimensions, and the political and environmental implications of these understandings. The doctoral students also acquire transferable non-academic skills by working with organizations that disseminate scientific knowledge or operate in political or development-related contexts. This project is a collaboration between five European universities (KU Leuven University, University of Edinburgh, Halle University, Uppsala University, and the University of Catania) and seven non-academic partners. It is part of a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network, funded by the European Union, running from 2023 to 2027. I am one of the Principal Investigators and the primary supervisor of doctoral students Luisa Mohor, Suranga Lakmal, and Avishka Sendanayake. Read more about C-URGE here: https://www.c-urge.eu/

BIOTRACES: BIODIVERSITY AND TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR PLURAL AND NATURE POSITIVE SOCIETIES
BIOTraCes aims to co-produce knowledge that contributes to transformative strategies for preserving and restoring biodiversity in Europe. The project focuses on understanding the relationships between values, power, and behavior to address the underlying drivers of biodiversity decline. This will be achieved by embracing principles of pluralization, empowerment, politicization, and embedding—building capacities for innovation and fostering transformative governance that is adaptive, plural, and equitable, with the goal of creating just and nature-positive societies. We practice what we preach by engaging with transformative initiatives in sectors with high impact on biodiversity (agriculture & food, forestry, water, and urbanization) across Member States in Europe, involving an active Influencer and Stakeholder Board. The project is a collaboration between 9 European universities and 9 non-academic partners, funded by the HORIZON Europe Program, and runs from 2022 to 2026. I am responsible for coordinating the case study research across the consortium and serve as the scientific coordinator for the transdisciplinary research team at the University of Catania. Read more about BioTraCEs here: https://www.biotraces.eu/

ENERGY COMMONS: PARTICIPATORY PROCESSES, CRITICAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITIES RESPONSE TO CONTEMPORARY SOCIO-ECONOMIC FRICTIONS
This project delves into the dynamics of energy communities, combining ethnographic and legal research to explore their pivotal role in adopting, implementing, and managing renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and biomass. The core objective is to map the intricate interplay between local and supra-local actors in tackling energy, environmental, and social sustainability challenges. A key focus of the research is on the conflicts that arise as communities manage renewable energy as common resources, examining issues like internal governance, self-regulation, and external relations. The project aims to shed light on how grassroots initiatives and top-down policies negotiate responsibilities and address tensions across multiple scales. Funded by the Italian Ministry of Education and Research under the PRIN PNRR 2022 call, the project spans from 2023 to 2025, with me serving as the scientific coordinator of the UNICT research team. Learn more about ENERGY COMMONS here: https://www.facebook.com/energycommons