Dr. Jacob Bolton

Biography

Jacob Bolton is a PhD candidate at the London School of Economics focusing on Environmental Policy Development. His research explores the implications of climate breakdown on shipping routes, particularly the Transpolar Sea Route, which is emerging due to rapidly melting sea ice in the Arctic. By examining logistical planning and economic forecasting, Jacob aims to understand how these speculative routes can remap global commodity flows, facilitating the transport of cargo between China and Europe while bypassing critical chokepoints like the Suez Canal. Prior to his tenure at LSE, he worked with an NGO focused on labor exploitation, where he conducted fieldwork among migrant farmworkers in the UK and presented research findings to the UK Parliament. Jacob also has experience teaching at the Royal College of Art and has been involved in explorative projects in Palestine. He holds a Master’s degree from the Centre for Research Architecture and has worked with the agency Forensic Architecture. His engagement in artistic research has been centered on the intersections of shipping, finance, and the temporal dynamics of the maritime world.

Research Interests

Experience