Dr. Javier Lezaun

Biography

Javier Lezaun is an Associate Professor at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography and the Director of the Institute for Science, Innovation and Society (InSIS) at the University of Oxford. His research interests lie at the intersection of anthropology and Science and Technology Studies (STS), particularly focusing on the interplay between scientific knowledge and political change. With extensive work in the biomedical and global health sectors, Lezaun has engaged in numerous collaborative efforts with scientists across various disciplines, including studies examining the organization of pharmaceutical research and the dynamics of scientific knowledge production during disease outbreaks such as the Zika emergency in Brazil. His recent projects have addressed public health issues like leishmaniasis, connecting it to agrarian systems and environmental changes, all while focusing on methodologies for effective control of disease vectors. In addition to his academic pursuits, Lezaun is involved in the Oxford Net Zero programme, directing research on carbon removal technologies compatible with sustainable development goals. He also serves on several editorial advisory bodies, including UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee. As an educator, he teaches courses in STS and Medical Anthropology, and supervises doctoral research, welcoming inquiries in areas intersecting STS and anthropology, particularly those related to global health and climate change.

Research Interests

Experience

Courses