James Elliot

James (Jim) Elliott is a sociologist whose recent research focuses on a wide array of topics related to urbanization, social inequality, and the environment. These include the accumulation and spread of industrial hazards and government risk containment efforts documented in his 2018 co-authored book, Sites Unseen. They also include ongoing work on natural hazards and unequal recoveries among individuals, organizations, and neighborhoods over time; on links between urbanization and carbon emissions and air pollution; as well as evolving vulnerabilities facing port cities and communities. He has received funding from multiple federal agencies, served as an advisor to the National Science Foundation’s program in Sociology, co-edited the journal Sociological Perspectives, and is currently serving as chair of the sociology department at Rice University.