Eranga Galappaththi
295 West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA
24061
As a human geographer, my research focuses on understanding complex human-environmental system changes, addressing the central question: How do Indigenous communities experience and respond to change? I have established long-term research collaborations with 11 Indigenous communities across the global north and south. My community-based participatory research with Vedda in Sri Lanka and Inuit in the Canadian Arctic prioritizes addressing challenges identified by the communities themselves, rather than imposing external research agendas.
As of January 2025, I have published 36 peer-reviewed research articles in leading journals, including The Lancet Planetary Health, Nature Climate Change, and One Earth, along with three book chapters. Of these, 18 are first-authored works. My contributions also extend to high-profile reports for the United Nations, such as the IPCC and FAO. I serve as an Associate Editor for Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures and have conducted over 60 manuscript reviews for international journals. Additionally, I have evaluated grant proposals for organizations such as the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the Virginia Sea Grant program, and the FONDECYT program in Chile.
I have delivered invited talks and guest lectures at esteemed institutions, including the Aspen Global Change Institute, the Center for Ocean Solutions at Stanford University, and the Vermont Council on World Affairs. As an educator and mentor, I lead the Indigenous Resilience & Innovation Lab (IRI), guiding students and fostering research that bridges academia and community needs.
Areas of Expertise:
- Climate-food-health nexus (global research networks)
- Climate change adaptation, resilience, & vulnerability (community-based research)
- Social-ecological systems (fisheries and aquaculture)
- Indigenous peoples & knowledge systems (Arctic & Sri Lanka)
- Multi-level governance (commons, adaptive co-management)
- Systematic literature reviews (tracing & tracking)
Education:
- Ph.D - McGill University, Canada, 2020
- M.Sc. - University of Manitoba, Canada, 2013
- M.B.A. – University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2010
- B.Sc. - Ocean University of Sri Lanka, 2005
- Qualitative Methods and Ethics in Geography (GEOG 4164)
- Human Dimensions of Coastal Social-ecological Systems (GEOG 4284/5284)
- Practicing Sustainability (GEOG 4444)
- Geographic Theory and Research (GEOG 5014)
- Sithuni Pathiranage. 2024. M.S. Governing Indigenous Food Systems: Global Practices and Local Realities in Sri Lanka.
Professor(s): Eranga Galappaththi - Brandy Ayesu-Danso. 2023. M.S. Climate change, human environment changes and adaptation responses in coastal indigenous community of Akplabanya, Ghana.
Professor(s): Eranga Galappaththi - Indunil Dharmasiri. 2023. M.S. Entrepreneurship-based factors to foster climate adaptations among Indigenous communities.
Professor(s): Eranga Galappaththi
Understanding the Geography of Wildlife Use in the Face of Urbanization.
Sponsor: U.S. National Science Foundation.
Investigator(s): Chaves V. (PI), Valle D.R. (UFL), and Galappaththi E.K. (VT).
Amount: $396,474
2024–2027
Collaborative Research: NSF-NFRF – The Indigenous Peoples Observatory Network (IPON): The Climate-Food-Health Nexus.
Sponsor: U.S. National Science Foundation.
Investigator(s): Galappaththi E.K. (PI) and Chi G. (PSU).
Amount: $424,251 (consortium-wide total: >$3.5M; project-specific total: $700,000).
2024–2027
Planning Proposal to Collaboratively Develop Community Partnerships with Nunavut Residents.
Sponsor: U.S. National Science Foundation. Investigator(s): Galappaththi E.K. (PI).
Amount: $200,000
2022–2025
Uplifting Livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples in Sri Lanka through Technological Interventions.
Sponsor: ICAT SEAD Grant, Virginia Tech.
Investigator(s):Galappaththi E.K. (PI) and Niewolny K. (VT).
Amount: $20,000
2024–2025
Using Population Genetics to Inform Sustainable Aquaculture Governance in Lake Victoria, Uganda.
Sponsor: GCC Seed Grant, Virginia Tech.
Investigator(s): Nyboer E. (PI), Galappaththi E.K. (VT), Mims M. (VT), Halleman E. (VT), Frimpong E. (VT), and Tibihika P.D.M. (NARO).
Amount: $12,670
2024–2025
Pathways to enhance Indigenous participation in developing climate resilience health systems: A Peruvian Case Study.
Sponsor: The Soulsby Foundation for One Health, UK.
Investigator(s): Galappaththi E.K. (PI) and Perera C.D. (VT).
Awarded: $10,053
2024-2025
Food Security and Climate Change among Indigenous Peoples in Sri Lanka.
Sponsor: ISCE Scholler Seed Grant, Virginia Tech.
Investigator(s): Galappaththi E.K. (PI) and Gamage T.A. (MCA).
Awarded: $30,000
2023–2024
Marine Debris Accumulation in Coastal Areas.
Sponsor: Center for Coastal Studies FY23 Seed Grant, Virginia Tech.
Investigator(s): Galappaththi E.K. (PI) and Russell J.D. (VT).
Amount: $9,800
2022–2023
Develop Partnerships and Collaborations with Indigenous Leaders in Sri Lanka.
Sponsor: Faculty Mentoring Grant, Virginia Tech.
Investigator(s): Galappaththi E.K. (PI).
Amount: $1,500
2022–2023
- Galappaththi, E.K. (In Press). The Role of Indigenous Fishers' Knowledge and Collective Action in Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change. In: Miller, F., Shrestha, K., Wright, S. (Eds.). Handbook on Climate Change Vulnerability, Environments, and Communities. Edward Elgar Publishing: XXX
- Galappaththi, E. K. (2023). How can co-management support adaptation to climate change? The case of co-existing fisheries from Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada. In Routledge Handbook of Climate Change Impacts on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (pp. 372-390). Routledge.
- Galappaththi, E.K. & Galappaththi, I.M. (2021) Five key characteristics that drive commonisation: Empirical evidence from Sri Lankan shrimp aquaculture. In: Nayak, P.K. (ed). Making Commons Dynamic: Understanding Change Through Commonisation and Decommonisation. (pp. 83-101). Routledge: New York.
- Victoria Reyes-García, V., et al. Galappaththi, E.K. et al. (2024) Local studies provide a global perspective of the impacts of climate change on Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Sustainable Earth Reviews, 7 (1): 1-11.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42055-023-00063-6 - Galappaththi, E. K., Perera, C. D., Illangarathna, G. A., Jayasekara, S. M., & Garbutt, H. (2024). Food security policy and coastal climate adaptation among Indigenous and Local Communities. Marine Policy, 170, 106408.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106408 - Pickering, K., Galappaththi, E., Ford, J., Pearce, T., Manuel, L., Dauniwaqalevu, E., ... & Amukugo, H. (2024). Fiji’s policy response to COVID-19 and the integration of Indigenous voices. Environmental Science & Policy, 158, 103791.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103791 - Chicmana-Zapata, V., Arotoma-Rojas, I., Anza-Ramírez, C., Ford, J., Galappaththi, E. K., Pickering, K., ... & Zavaleta-Cortijo, C. (2023). Justice implications of health and food security policies for Indigenous peoples facing COVID-19: a qualitative study and policy analysis in Peru. Health Policy and Planning, 38(Suppl 2), ii36.
https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czad051 - Bilous, M., Wight, K., Galappaththi, E. K., & Dunmall, K. M. (2024). A systematic review of indicators and methods used to assess coastal to offshore marine ecosystems in the western Canadian Arctic. Polar Biology, 47(4), 317-332.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-024-03237-w - Reyes-García, V., García-del-Amo, D., Álvarez-Fernández, S. ... Galappaththi, E. K., et al. (2024). Indigenous Peoples and local communities report ongoing and widespread climate change impacts on local social-ecological systems. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01164-y
- Chicmana-Zapata, V., Arotoma-Rojas, I., Anza-Ramírez, C., Ford, J., Galappaththi, E. K., Pickering, K., ... & Zavaleta-Cortijo, C. (2023). Justice implications of health and food security policies for Indigenous peoples facing COVID-19: a qualitative study and policy analysis in Peru. Health Policy and Planning, 38(Suppl 2), ii36.
https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czad051 - Zavaleta-Cortijo, C., Ford, J. D., Galappaththi, E. K., Namanya, D. B., Nkwinti, N., George, B., ... & Fernandez-de-Larrinoa, Y. (2023). Indigenous knowledge, community resilience, and health emergency preparedness. The Lancet Planetary Health, 7(8), e641-e643.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00140-7 - Galappaththi, E. K., & Schlingmann, A. (2023). The sustainability assessment of Indigenous and local knowledge-based climate adaptation responses in agricultural and aquatic food systems. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 62, 101276.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101276 - Galappaththi, E. K., Perera, C. D., Dharmasiri, I. P., Ford, J. D., Kodithuwakku, S. S., Chicmana-Zapata, V., ... & Hangula, M. M. (2023). Policy responses to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and the consideration of Indigenous Peoples. Environmental Science & Policy, 144, 110-123.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.03.008 - Pickering, K., Galappaththi, E. K., Ford, J. D., Singh, C., Zavaleta-Cortijo, C., Hyams, K., ... & Team, C. O. (2023). Indigenous peoples and the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic scoping review. Environmental Research Letters, 18(3), 033001.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acb804 - Galappaththi, E. K., Falardeau, M., Harris, L. N., Rocha, J. C., Moore, J. S., & Berkes, F. (2022). Resilience-based steps for adaptive co-management of Arctic small-scale fisheries. Environmental Research Letters, 17(8), 083004.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac7b37 - Torhan, S., Grady, C. A., Ajibade, I., Galappaththi, E. K., Hernandez, R. R., Musah‐Surugu, J. I., ... & Global Adaptation Mapping Team. (2022). Tradeoffs and synergies across global climate change adaptations in the food‐energy‐water nexus. Earth's Future, 10(4), e2021EF002201.
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EF002201 - Ulibarri, N., Ajibade, I., Galappaththi, E. K., Joe, E. T., Lesnikowski, A., Mach, K. J., ... & Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative Team. (2022). A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation. Climate Policy, 22(1), 77-96.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2021.2002251 - Galappaththi, E. K., Susarla, V. B., Loutet, S. J., Ichien, S. T., Hyman, A. A., & Ford, J. D. (2022). Climate change adaptation in fisheries. Fish and Fisheries, 23(1), 4-21.
https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12595 - Sitati, A., … Galappaththi, E.K., et al. (2021). Climate change adaptation in conflict-affected countries: A systematic assessment of evidence. Discover Sustainability, 2(1), 42.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-021-00052-9 - Thomas, A., Thekritoff, E. … Galappaththi, E.K., et al. (2021). Global evidence of limits and constraints to human adaptation. Regional Environmental Change, 21:85.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01808-9 - Scheelbeek, P.F.D., … Galappaththi, E. K., et al. (2021). The effects on public health of climate change adaptation responses: a systematic review of evidence from low- and middle-income countries. Environmental Research Letters 16: 073001.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac092c - Turek-Hankins, L.L., … Galappaththi, E. K., et al. (2021). Climate change adaptation to extreme heat: A global systematic review of implemented action. Oxford Open Climate Change, 1 (1): 1-13.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfclm/kgab005 - Galappaththi, E. K., Ford, J. D., Bennett, E. M., & Berkes, F. (2021). Adapting to climate change in small-scale fisheries: Insights from indigenous communities in the global north and south. Environmental Science & Policy, 116, 160-170.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.11.009 - Galappaththi, E. K., Ford, D.J., Bennett, E.M. (2020). Climate change and adaptation to social-ecological change: The case of Indigenous people and culture-based fisheries in Sri Lanka. Climatic Change,162 (2): 279-300.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-020-02716-3 - Galappaththi, E. K., Ichien, S.T., Hayman, A.A., Aubrac, C.J., Ford, J.D. (2020). Climate change adaptation in aquaculture. Reviews in Aquaculture, 12 (4): 2160-2176.
https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12427 - Ford, J.D., King, N., Galappaththi, E. K., Pearce, T., McDowell, G., Harper, S. (2020). Resilience of Indigenous peoples to environmental change. One Earth,2(6): 532-543.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.05.014 - Galappaththi, E. K., Ford, J., Bennett, E., Berkes, F. (2019). Climate change and community fisheries in the Arctic: A case study from Pangnirtung, Canada. Journal of Environmental Management, 250 (109534): 1-11.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109534 - Galappaththi, E. K., Ford, J., Bennett, E. (2019). A framework for assessing community adaptation to climate change in a fisheries context. Environmental Science and Policy, 92, 17-26.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.11.005 - Galappaththi, E. K., Berkes, F., Ford, J. (2018). Climate change adaptation efforts in coastal shrimp aquaculture: A case from northwestern Sri Lanka. In: Johnson, J., De Young, C., Bahri, T., Soto, D., & Virapat, C., eds. FishAdapt: The Global Conference on Climate Change Adaptation for Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2018 Bangkok. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Proceedings No. 61. Rome, FAO.
- Galappaththi, E. K., & Nayak, P. K. (2017). Two faces of shrimp aquaculture: commonising vs. decommonising effects of a wicked driver. Maritime Studies, 16, 1-19.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40152-017-0066-4 - Galappaththi, I. M., Galappaththi, E.K., Kodithuwakku, S. S. (2017). Can start-up motives influence social-ecological resilience in community-based entrepreneurship setting? Case of coastal shrimp farmers in Sri Lanka. Marine Policy 86: 156-163.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.09.024 - Galappaththi, E. K., Kodithuwakku, S. S., & Galappaththi, I. M. (2016). Can environment management integrate into supply chain management? Information sharing via shrimp aquaculture cooperatives in northwestern Sri Lanka. Marine Policy, 68, 187-194.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2016.03.013 - Galappaththi, E. K., & Berkes, F. (2015). Can co-management emerge spontaneously? Collaborative management in Sri Lankan shrimp aquaculture. Marine Policy, 60, 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2015.05.009 - Galappaththi, E. K., & Berkes, F. (2015). Drama of the commons in small-scale shrimp aquaculture in northwestern Sri Lanka. International Journal of the Commons, 9(1), 347-368.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26522828 - Galappaththi, E. K., & Berkes, F. (2014). Institutions for managing common-pool resources: the case of community-based shrimp aquaculture in northwestern Sri Lanka. Maritime Studies, 13, 1-16.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40152-014-0013-6