Dr Metehan Ciftci

Mete is a social scientist keen to explore the social, political, and economic implications of natural resource exploitation. His key research themes include environmental justice, the resource curse and associated conflicts, as well as critical minerals and material circularity (circular economy). He is currently a PhD candidate at the University College London Institute for Sustainable Resources, where he is researching the social impact of the rising demand for transition minerals in source countries, with a particular focus on lithium-related conflicts in Chile and Argentina. Prior to joining UCL, he completed his MSc in International Political Economy at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2017 and his BA in International Relations at Galatasaray University in 2016.

As part of the ReSET project, Mete is responsible for examining the economic and regulatory frameworks that govern innovative resource extraction from volcanic geofluids and its integration with geothermal energy systems in Montserrat, under Work Package 3. His role focuses on ensuring that these processes maximise local economic benefits while addressing critical issues such as circular mineral economy, land rights, social license to operate, and regional geopolitical implications. Mete analyses how extractive technologies can contribute to long-term cultural and climate resilience, aligning the findings from Montserrat with global governance standards such as the Natural Resource Charter. This work involves close collaboration with other Work Packages across disciplines to navigate the complex social, historical, and technological dimensions of resource governance.