Dr. Aswani RS

Dr. Aswani RS is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research interests lie at the intersection of security, strategy, and environment, such as Environmental Politics, Geopolitics, Sustainability, and Indo-Pacific. She has a Ph.D. and M.Phil. from the University of Kerala in Maritime Security and a Masters's from the University of Hyderabad. Her M.Phil thesis on India- Maldives Geostrategic Relations received the Best Dissertation Award from T.V. Paul, McGill University, Canada. She has widely published in Scopus and WoS journals in the areas of Energy, Environment and Security, a nexus that aligns with her research interests. Apart from teaching and research, she spends time dream weaving and leading a mindful - minimalist- sustainable life.

Aswani joined UPES in 2017 in the Department of Public Policy, School of Business where she taught International Politics and India’s Foreign Policy. When UPES launched School for Life to facilitate a comprehensive learning experience for students, she was instrumental in designing the curriculum on Environment and Sustainability, which we offered to more than 3000+ students across disciplines in the University. Since March 2022 she has been associated with School of Liberal Studies.

Environmental Politics, Geopolitics, Sustainability, Indo-Pacific, Maritime Security and South Asia

Aswani’s teaching philosophy centres on developing critical thinking and analytical skills among her students who study the complex interplay of international political systems. International politics is dynamic and ever-changing; hence, students need to have a comprehensive understanding of the global political landscape. Concepts of power, nationality, and security are core to studying this subject. Most concepts of international politics are greatly inclined to Western theories, but her course plans are based on pedagogies that consider the Third World perspective of security, energy, and environment. She strives to create a classroom environment that is inclusive, collaborative, and engaging, where students feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their perspectives.

Geopolitics of Climate | Energy Policies | International Relations | South Asian Politics | Foreign Policy

Academic Excellence Award- UPES, 2022

Excellence in Journalism, 2015

Best M.Phil. Dissertation, 2014

Gold Medalist in Under Graduation, 2009

Publications- Journals

• Can Offshore Wind Energy Bridge Geopolitical Asymmetry through Cooperative Sustainable Development in South China Sea? Asian Journal of Political Science. Routledge. 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02185377.2023.2227162 [ABDC- B, SCOPUS| ESCI]
• Techno-economic and environmental assessment to mitigating climate change and building energy security: a study on Willingdon Island. International Journal of Sustainable Energy. Taylor and Francis. IF: 0.58 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14786451.2022.2119973
• Can Offshore Wind Energy lead to Sustainable and Secure South China Sea? Energy and Environment. SAGE. IF 2.95. [ABDC- C, SCOPUS] https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X221125133
• Renewable Energy and Transitioning towards Sustainable Tourism: Inferences from Kernel Density and Non-parametric Approach. Renewable Energy. ELSEVIER. IF 8.1 193. (5, May, 2022). 963-975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.04.132
• Realigning India’s Vietnam Policy through Cooperative Sustainable Development: A Geostrategic Counterbalancing to China in Indo-Pacific. East Asia. Springer Netherlands. July 2021. IF 0.88 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-021-09371-0
• Is geopolitics a threat for Offshore Wind Energy: A Case of Indian Ocean Region. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Springer Nature. Jan 2021. IF: 4.56 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-021-12779-z
• Non-traditional Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region: Policy Alternatives. Journal of Public Affairs. 22 (2) Sep 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2456
• Political challenges for India in the Indian Ocean Region: The Need for Confidence Building Measures. South Asian Journal of Socio-Political Studies. Vol. XX, Issue.2, January-June, 2019. 11-16. ISSN 0972- 4613.
• Maritime Terror Threats in Indian Ocean Region: The Need for Safety Interventions. Southern Economist. Vol.58, Issue.1, May, 2019. 13-17. ISSN 0038-4046.

Book Chapters

• Climate Change Impact, Vulnerability and Mitigation in the Indian Ocean Region: Policy Suggestions. In Kaushik, Anubha, Kaushik, C. P., Attri, SD (Ed.). Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability Approaches: Global Lessons and local Challenges. SPRINGER NATURE: Singapore. DOI : 10.1007/978-981-16-0902-2.
• Sustainability of Biofuels: The Dynamic Nexus between CO2 Emissions and Bioenergy Consumption in OECD Countries. In Kaushik, Anubha, Kaushik, C. P., Attri, SD (Ed.). Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability Approaches: Global Lessons and local Challenges. SPRINGER NATURE: Singapore. DOI : 10.1007/978-981-16-0902-2.
• The Indian Ocean Region and India’s Act East Policy: Maritime Challenges for India in the 21st Century. In Josukutty C.A. (Ed.). India's Act East Policy. New Century Publications: New Delhi. 2020.
• Domino effect of Climate Change on Biodiversity, Food Security and Oceanic Acidification. In Bhat, Roy, Bhatt (Ed.), Energy Economics and the Environment Conservation, Preservation and Sustainability. Sage India: New Delhi. 2020.
• Maritime Security: Global Repercussions of Emerging Terror Threats in Indian Ocean Region. In. Suresh R. (Ed.), India’s National Security: A Maritime Security Perspective. (pp. 134-141). VIJ Books India Pvt. Ltd: New Delhi. 2019.

Invited Talks and Lectures

• Invited by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam to speak during the 10th Ocean Dialogue on the topic: Green Energy from Blue Waters: Renewable Revolution in the South China Sea, which provided policy recommendations for the development of offshore renewable energy in the Indo-Pacific. Ocean Dialogue is an essential platform for policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to come together and collaborate on solutions that will safeguard the health and well-being of our planet's oceans in March 2023.
• Invited talk on Why Politics Matter for Business, Lecture for MBA Students at Sanskrithi Group of Institutions, Andhra Pradesh in 2022.
• Invited lecture on Indian Ocean Politics, Foreign Policy Research Centre, New Delhi available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D2dW2Tfg50&t=3025s . 2022 June
• Invited talk on Russia-Ukraine War and Geopolitical Crisis during the Intercontinental Conclave, Jaipuria Institute of Management in 2021.
• Invited talk on Global Goals and Inclusive Development, at the Francis College for Women, Hyderabad in 2021.
• Invited talk on Maritime Security of India in the 21st Century: Traditional and Non-Traditional Challenges at MIDS (Madras Institute of Development Studies) in July 2019.

Conferences

• Presented a paper titled, India’s Changing Perspectives towards Climate Change Mitigation: The Impact of Nontraditional Maritime Security Threats at the International Conference on Political Economy of Climate Change, organized by the Association of Asian Scholars, New Delhi from 25-27 November 2021.
• Presented a paper titled, Climate Change Impact, Vulnerability and Mitigation in the Indian Ocean Region: Policy Suggestions at the International Conference on Knowledge and Policy for Sustainable Development: Global Lessons and Local Challenges, organized by Directorate of International Affairs, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi from 25-27 September 2019.
• Presented a paper titled, Maritime Dimensions of Act East Policy during the National Seminar organized by Ministry of External Affairs at the University of Kerala, November 13-14, 2018.
• Presented a paper titled, The Indian Ocean Region and India’s Act East Policy: Maritime Challenges for India in the 21st Century during the three-day International Seminar at Trivandrum on 8-10 February 2018.

Completed International Professional Development Workshop on Alternative Paradigm in Economy: Coping Inequality, Promoting Social Change, organized by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi (India) in collaboration with Institute for New Economic Thinking, New York (USA) on 23-24 September 2019.

aswani.rs@ddn.upes.ac.in