Jagadish Thaker


Jagadish Thaker

JT or JAGADISH THAKER (Ph.D., George Mason University) is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland. He is an affiliate researcher with the  Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. His research examines ways to understand and enhance public, business, and policy engagement with climate change and public health. His research areas are in science and climate change communication, health communication, and strategic communication campaigns.

He has won several grants and awards, including the International Communication (ICA) Association’s Top Faculty Paper Award, National Communication Association’s (NCA) Golden Anniversary Monograph AwardOutstanding Ph.D. Graduate Alumnus of the Year award from George Mason University’s Department of Communication, Massey Business School’s Excellence in Research Award, and Top 40 under 40 inspiring teachers award from The Indian Express, a leading newspaper in India. His co-edited book, a 3-volume Oxford Encyclopedia of Climate Change Communication, was a finalist in the Association of American Publishers’ 2019 PROSE Award.

He has served as an expert reviewer or jury for the National Geographic Society, Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC), European Science Foundation, and Health Research Council New Zealand, among other funding agencies.

His research has been cited by intergovernmental agencies such as The World Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO, government agencies in India and New Zealand, and sustainability business groups and advocacy organizations. Several international newspapers have covered his research, including The GuardianThe New York Times, ReutersThe AtlanticNew Zealand Herald, The Hindu. He has appeared several times on national TV and radio in New Zealand. The Royal Society of New Zealand featured his research.