The Polson Institute for Global Development welcomed urban geographer Nik Heynen as its inaugural Distinguished Speaker in the Fall 2023 semester. A Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Georgia, Heynen’s research explores areas of urban political ecology, abolition ecologies and geographies, and geographies of neoliberalism and racial capitalism.
Heynen was selected as the inaugural speaker for his critical approach towards understanding how racialized processes produce structurally unjust geographies and ecologies, according to Mildred Warner, director of the Polson Institute. While on campus, Heynen delivered a three-day seminar on Abolition Ecology, held office hours for interested graduate students, and presented at the Critical Development seminar series.
“The Polson Institute is so pleased to sponsor distinguished speakers who can stimulate our students and faculty and promote critical perspectives on development studies,” said Warner, professor of global development and city and regional planning.
The revitalized Polson speaker series spurred from a graduate student desire to collaborate with researchers that critically assess the complexity behind development initiatives, particularly in the domestic context. Two Ph.D. students in Development Studies, Tamar Law and Steven McCutcheon Rubio, took the lead on organizing the visit and slate of daily activities.
"We couldn't have asked for a more compelling and engaged inaugural Polson Distinguished Speaker than Dr. Nik Heynen,” said McCutcheon Rubio.
“The off-the-charts energy and intellectual and professional generosity he brought to the role set a high bar, and were palpably energizing for all of us — students, faculty, and staff — who interacted with him during his stay at Cornell.”
