Research thatbegins bylistening.
Prof. Dr. Habibur Rahman connects community knowledge and culture with climate adaptation, water governance and rural development across South Asia.
Advisor and collaborator to institutions worldwide (demo)
What's new
A new paper, a new consortium project, PhD openings and an upcoming keynote.
Flood exposure and the geography of climate migration
Saline-Smart Agriculture across 120 villages in 4 countries
Two fully-funded PhD positions
Asia-Pacific Climate Week: locally-led adaptation finance
Three decades of research, teaching and institution-building
“Good research begins by listening, and it is finished only when it reaches the people it was meant to serve.”
For nearly three decades I have had the privilege of learning alongside students, farmers, storytellers, policymakers and fellow scientists. Here you will find my research, projects, teaching and the organizations I have helped build, and perhaps a reason to collaborate. My door is always open to curious students and committed partners.
Four connected lines of inquiry
From oral traditions to water committees: how communities understand, govern and adapt to a changing delta.
Folk knowledge & adaptation
Oral traditions and local ecological knowledge in responses to floods and salinity.
Community water governance
Power and participation in water user associations and village committees.
Livelihoods & migration
Climate-related mobility, remittances and livelihood change.
Higher-education quality
Research integrity and supervision practice in Asian universities.
Recent work
- 2026
Flood exposure and the geography of climate migration in South Asian deltas.
Rahman, H., Karim, S., & Lee, J. · Nature Climate Change, 16(5), 412–420
- 2025
Locally-led adaptation finance: evidence from 60 coastal unions.
Rahman, H., & Akter, N. · World Development, 184, 106712
- 2024
Salinity intrusion and the future of rice–shrimp systems.
Hossain, M., Rahman, H., & Smith, R. · Global Environmental Change, 84, 102801
News
- Keynote at Asia-Pacific Climate WeekOn locally-led adaptation finance in Bangkok. TalksSep 2026
- New project: Saline-Smart AgricultureThree-year, four-country consortium grant awarded. ProjectsJul 2026
- Paper in Nature Climate ChangeCo-authored study on migration and flood exposure. PublicationsMay 2026
- PhD openings for 2027 announcedTwo fully-funded positions. OpeningsJan 2026
What students and partners say
Let's build knowledge that travels.
Research partnerships, consultancy, supervision or speaking invitations: a short note is the best way to start.