Rethinking resiliencethrough living systems

Disaster science must engage seriously with culture, aesthetics, and the more-than-human world.

1. 2024 to present

   PhD Nature-based Disaster Resilience

   University College London (UCL)

   Thesis: Green Learning for Disaster Resilience: A study of nature-based solutions storytelling in flood-prone communities in Glasgow & Kyoto. Supervised by Dr Dan Haines, Dr Kaori Kitagawa & Dr Megnaa Mehtta. Developing the Green Learning framework through immersive interviews and cultural fieldwork, producing creative learning interventions to foster nature-based disaster resilience.

2. 2022 to 2024

   Research Assistant

   University of East London

   Supported two international DRR projects (risk communication; disaster evacuation) combining computational ABM, participatory methods, and creative research approaches. Research featured at highest levels of academic representation and attracted significant media interest. Placed in top 1% of early-career researchers while working full-time.

3. 2021 to 2022

   MSc Global Futures: Justice, Development & Sustainability

   Royal Holloway, University of London

   Distinction. Focused on the role of nature in upholding human society and philosophical ideas including Ecological Posthumanism. Utilised videography for creative research dissemination.

4. 2018 to 2021

   BSc (Hons) Psychology, Clinical Psychology & Mental Health

   Royal Holloway, University of London

   2:1. Focused on the psychological impact of human-nature disconnect. Engaged in complex statistics via R and SPSS (multiple regressions, ANOVAs, t-tests).

1. Fizah SaddiqueUCL 2026 Graduate, Education, Gender and International Development Masters ProgrammeFormer student, Co-learning for Disaster & Climate Justice module, UCL Institute of Education (2026)

   I had the pleasure of attending Maciej Pawlik's session, "Green learning for disaster resilience", during one of my masters modules, Co-learning for Disaster and Climate Justice, and it was one of the most engaging learning experiences I've had. What I appreciated most was his ability to create a genuinely participatory space where everyone felt encouraged to contribute, reflect, and learn from one another. Through thoughtful discussions, storytelling, and creative activities, the session was both intellectually stimulating and enjoyable.

   What particularly resonated with me was how Maciej connected Green Learning not only to disaster resilience and nature-based solutions, but also to broader questions of social justice, inequality, and the value of local and indigenous knowledge. He encouraged us to think critically about who has access to knowledge, whose voices are heard in disaster risk reduction, and how stronger relationships with nature can contribute to more equitable and resilient communities.

   Maciej has a remarkable ability to make complex ideas accessible while inspiring meaningful reflection. I left the session with a much deeper appreciation of Green Learning and the role of storytelling, community engagement, and human–nature relationships in building resilience. I would highly recommend him as a facilitator, educator, and researcher to anyone interested in sustainability, disaster risk reduction, and community-centred approaches to learning.

2. Alex BlackSenior Professional, Disaster Risk ReductionFormer student, Emergency Planning & Management module, UCL Department of Risk & Disaster Reduction (2025–2026)

   I'm glad to recommend Maciej, who led our emergency planning seminars at UCL as a PhD teaching associate. His enthusiasm for the subject was genuine and infectious, and every session reflected real preparation and care.

   What stood out most was how he drew in the whole group, making space for quieter voices and bringing a real breadth of perspectives to our collective learning.

3. Dr Hideyuki ShiroshitaPresident, Avoidable Deaths Network. Associate Professor, Safety Sciences, Kansai University, JapanJapan Lead for research assistant projects (2022–2024)

   I have known Maciej since 2022, when we offered a research assistant position for the project titled "Developing an Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) System to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," funded by Kansai University. Among more than 60 applicants, he was selected as the sole research assistant for the project. I was impressed by his passion and enthusiasm for the project, and I can confidently say that our decision to hire him was the right one.

   The aforementioned research project involved conducting interviews with various stakeholders in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) across local communities in both the UK and Japan. Maciej organized and led most of the interviews in the UK and actively participated in those conducted in Japan. Despite the language barrier, he made significant efforts to communicate effectively with Japanese participants and to understand the information they provided. His dedication and hard work were instrumental to the project's success. Within six months, he delivered two presentations related to the project and led the writing of a research paper, which has already been published in a Q1 journal.

   Due to his commitment and contributions, our team sought to extend his contract and successfully secured additional funding to retain him. Subsequently, as part of Kansai's SDGs project, we applied for and won the Impact Builder Competition at the University of East London. Maciej once again served as the research assistant for this initiative, which included delivering a series of special lectures at a junior high school in Japan. During fieldwork in Japan, he demonstrated excellent coordination skills and further proved his capability as a researcher.

   Based on my experience working with Maciej, I can attest to his strong aptitude for research. He is skilled at arranging and conducting interviews, collecting and analyzing data, delivering presentations, and writing research papers. Research requires not only a sharp mind but also well-developed skills, both of which Maciej possesses.

4. Dr Ravindra JayaratneChartered Civil Engineer, Institution of Civil Engineers. Reader, Coastal Engineering, University of East LondonLine manager at the University of East London (2022–2024)

   Maciej was an outstanding Research Assistant on two major interdisciplinary, international projects focused on disaster risk reduction, funded by Kansai University and the University of East London. He demonstrated an exceptional ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and fully adapt to diverse fieldwork environments in both the UK and Japan. His capacity to seamlessly integrate into these varied contexts made him indispensable to the success of the projects.

   The quality of Maciej's work is truly exceptional. From research papers and presentations to creative blogs produced for non-academic audiences, his work was of the highest standard. His ability to manage complex administrative tasks, such as ethics applications and risk assessments, was flawless, placing him among the top 1% of researchers I have supervised. Beyond his technical skills, Maciej is an exceptional team player who brings enthusiasm and collaboration to every setting. The passion he has for research, combined with his ability to inspire those around him, sets him apart as a truly exceptional researcher with an exciting future and real potential to enact positive change.