Maaz Gardezi

Dr. Maaz Gardezi, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Virginia Tech, is dedicated to exploring the intersection of climate change and the social and political implications of emerging digital technologies in food and agriculture systems. His interdisciplinary research and teaching focus on building sustainable and socially just regional, national, and international food and agricultural systems. Dr. Gardezi emphasizes the role of social science in promoting innovation and democracy, from design to governance.

As an environmental sociologist with expertise in mixed methods research, Dr. Gardezi maintains several long-term research projects through his Technology-Environment-Society Lab at Virginia Tech. He is the Principal Investigator of projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant. His research focuses on precision agriculture, exploring how emerging agricultural technologies such as artificial intelligence, sensors, and big data can help farmers mitigate and adapt to climate change while addressing social and political inequalities within farm labor and work. Dr. Gardezi's participatory research/design methods involve farmers and farm workers as co-designers and co-evaluators of Artificial Intelligence solutions, along with nonprofit organizations and industry experts to balance innovation with demands of social justice. Additionally, his research journey has taken him to the Global South where he has pursued multiple research projects focused on climate adaptation and vulnerability in South Asia, examining power structures, outlining policy-relevant paths to empower marginalized communities, and innovating methods and theories relating to sustainability and climate.

Before joining Virginia Tech, Maaz was an assistant professor of sociology and rural studies with a secondary appointment in the natural resource management at South Dakota State University. He has a bachelors in economics from University of Bath (UK), a masters in environmental policy from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a PhD in sociology and sustainable agriculture from Iowa State University. He has experience working in different sectors, including the private sector (Porsche Cars Great Britain), non-profit (World Wildlife Fund- Washington D.C.), and as a consultant to various government bodies.

At Virginia Tech, Maaz offers undergraduate and graduate courses within the Department of Sociology and the newly approved graduate certificate program in Science, Technology, and Engineering in Policy (STEP).