James J.A. Blair

Dr. James J.A. Blair is Associate Professor in Geography and Anthropology at Cal Poly Pomona. He is the author of Salvaging Empire: Sovereignty, Natural Resources, and Environmental Science in the South Atlantic (Cornell University Press, 2023). His work centers on energy, water, and environmental justice related to extractive industries, such as mining, fossil fuels, dams, logging, and fishing. Specific case studies include: geothermal lithium extraction at the Salton Sea in California; lithium mining, hydroelectric dams, and industrial logging in Chile; as well as offshore oil and commercial fishing in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Blair’s research has been supported by the NSF, EPA, Fulbright-IIE, Wenner-Gren Foundation, SSRC, Mellon Foundation/ACLS, 11th Hour Project/The Schmidt Family Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation. Blair also has professional experience in environmental justice advocacy, as an Equity Technical Advisor for Comite Civico del Valle, an International Advocate for the NRDC, and Land Agency Coordinator for Sierra Club.