Staff Profile: Dr. Andreas Kopf
Lecturer
Email: andreas.kopf@usp.ac.fj
Office: CELT Room 106
Tel. Ext.: 32173
Education
PhD in Sociology (The University of the South Pacific, Fiji);
MA (Magister Artium) in Sociology & Socio‑Economic/Modern History (University of Mannheim, Germany);
Research Area
Environmental Sociology, Human and Social Dimensions of Global Climate Change, Social Theory, Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, Social Inequality, Social Development and Change
Bio
Andreas Kopf is a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of the South Pacific (USP). He teaches sociological theory and research methods, coordinating courses such as Theories of Social Inequality, Classical Sociology Theories and Methodologies, Research Methods in Sociology, and Social Development. His research spans the human and social dimensions of climate change, environmental sociology, social inequality, social development and social change, with a regional focus on the South Pacific. Andreas has published widely with international publishers and research organisations, including Routledge, Springer, and Afrobarometer. He received USP’s Vice‑Chancellor and President’s Prize as the Best PhD Graduate in 2017 and is a British Academy research award-holder.
MA and PhD Supervision
Current supervision
- Mashnil Shinoy (MA Sociology): “Primary Prevention of Violence against Women and Girls: the Perspectives of Young Indo-Fijian Women Living in Informal Settlements in Suva”
- Malakai Waqa Kaitani (MA Sociology): “The impact of climate-induced displacement and the dynamics of immobility on Indigenous identity; Case studies of Nukui Village Rewa and Vunisavisavi Village Cakaudrove, Fiji”
- Seforsa Waisele (MA Sociology): “Exploring the lived experience of persons with physical disabilities in Fiji”
- Jason Adrian (MA Sociology): “Understanding Secondary Conversions to Baptist Churches in Contemporary Urban Fiji through Life Histories”
- Eseta Drova (MSc Marine Science): “Utilizing Traditional Ecological Knowledge to better understand Freshwater Eels (Anguilla spp) for aquaculture potential in Fiji”
- Afrada Shah (PhD Psychology): “Psychological Dimensions of Environmental Threats: A Qualitative Exploration among Fijians with Disabilities exposed to Cyclones”
- Sunia Baikeirewa (PhD Social Policy): “Stakeholder Perceptions on Climate Finance Effectiveness for relocation in Fiji: A case-study from two relocated village communities – Tukuraki and Narikoso”
Completions
- Sam Kaiapam (MA Social Policy & Administration): “Impacts of Labour Migration on Migrants and Their Families: A Case Study of Vanuatu”
Courses taught:
- SO100: Themes and Perspectives in Sociology
- SO122: Classical Sociology Theories and Methodologies
- SO200: Modern Social Theory
- SO300: Research Methods in Sociology
- SO401: Sociological Theory
- SO409: Social Development
Ongoing Collaborative Research Projects
A Sea of Connections: Valuing Reef Passages in the South Pacific Region (SOCPacific2R)
Understanding the lived experiences of substance use in Fiji: A qualitative study.
Exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (Large Language Models) for Enhancing Learning and Teaching in the Pacific Island Countries
Journal articles and book chapters
- Weber, E., & Kopf, A. (2025). COVID-19, climate, and environmental change in Fiji. In Rais, A. (Ed.), COVID-19: Impacts on health and health systems (pp. 23-47). Springer.
- Weber, E., Kopf, A., Koto, C., Liolea, C. M., Rarokolutu, R. T., & Reddy, S. (2024). Embracing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in geography and empowering communities in the South Pacific: the example of Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) in Suva, Fiji. In Chen, G., & Eaves, L. E. (Eds.), How To Foster Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Justice In Geography (pp. 280-292). Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Weber, E., Koto, C., Kopf, A., Pickering-Bhagwan, M., Nawaqalevu, A., Halter, N., & Vamosi, K. (2023). History and contemporary displacement in Suva’s informal settlements. In Neef, A., Ngin, C., Moreda, T., & Mollett, S. (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Global Land and Resource Grabbing (pp. 386–400). Routledge.
- Weber, E., Kopf, A., & Vaha, M. (2022). COVID-19 in Fiji—From health and economic to major political crisis. In Rais, A. (Ed.), Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreaks, Vaccination, Politics and Society (pp. 45–66). Springer.
- Weber, E., Kopf, A., & Vaha, M. (2021). COVID-19 pandemics in the Pacific island countries and territories. In Rais, A. (Ed.), Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreaks, Environment and Human Behaviour: International Case Studies (pp. 25-47). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
- Kanemasu, Y., Rakuita, T., & Kopf, A. (2021). Foregrounding Pacific Epistemologies in Curriculum Review: Exercising Educator Agency in a Process of Institutional Change. Directions: Journal of Educational Studies, 35(1), 18–28.
- Kopf, A., Fink, M., & Weber, E. (2020). Gender vulnerability to climate change and natural hazards: The case of Tropical Cyclone Winston, Fiji. In Amin, S., Watson, D., & Girard, C. (Eds.), Mapping security in the Pacific (pp. 119-132). Routledge.
- Weber, E., & Kopf, A. (2020). Structural dimensions of doctoral supervision in regional universities: The case of The University of the South Pacific. In Watson, D., Blair, E., & Raturi, S. (Eds.), Graduate Research Supervision in the Developing World: Policies, Pedagogies, and Practices (pp. 169-180). Routledge.
- Weber, E., & Kopf, A. (2018). South-South Approaches to International Environmental Negotiations: the case of Climate Change. In Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, E., & Daley, P. (Eds.), Handbook of South-South Relations (pp. 205-14). Routledge.
Policy Briefs
- Macharia, W., Isbell, T., & Kopf, A. (2018). Kenyans say climate change affecting personal lives and country. Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 183.
- Kopf, A., & Isbell, T. (2017). Senegal’s corruption court seen as building trust in government, but credibility weakened by bias. Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 136.
- Kopf, A., & Isbell, T. (2017). Of the people, for the people? Attitudes toward sharing of resource revenues in Mozambique. Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 132.
- Kopf, A., & Isbell, T. (2016). Wind of Change? Attitudes towards renewable energy policy in Mauritius. Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 127.