AlphaGeo partnership will harness data science to power sustainability research

A unique new partnership will combine expertise and insight from AlphaGeo, a leading provider of AI-powered analytics for climate risk, resilience and investment strategy, with that of LSE’s Global School of Sustainability (GSoS) and Data Science Institute (DSI). Together, they aim to put data science to work to combat climate change.

Through this new partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), researchers affiliated with GSoS and DSI will be able to leverage AlphaGeo’s data and analytic tools to conduct cutting-edge new investigations into the current and future impacts of climate change which, in turn, will help develop strategies for climate adaption and resilience. LSE alumnus Dr Parag Khanna (PhD International Relations 2010), AlphaGeo’s founder and CEO, will also lend his passion and expertise to this and other projects throughout LSE as a Visiting Senior Fellow at DSI.

Given the complexity of today's world, there is no higher calling than to tackle interconnected challenges with expert foresight and an inclusive ethos. LSE has embodied these values for over a century, and I'm deeply honoured to rekindle my affiliation with this renowned institution. Data science has the power to uncover novel solutions to societal challenges as well as to guide us in implementing them. We must not waste a moment in harnessing its potential.

Driving sustainability research forward with high-quality data

Because AlphaGeo’s data allows for detailed analysis of climate and economic factors focused on specific geographic areas, the partnership could soon lead to new breakthroughs in many areas of sustainability research. Examples include:

• advancing our ability to develop detailed and accurate projections of the impacts of climate change at the regional and local level, helping communities better understand now the investments they need to make to ensure future adaptability and security
• creating new tools for farmers in low- and middle-income countries to help them make informed decisions about climate-related risks to their workers, crops and farmland
• understanding the ways in which changes in temperature and precipitation will impact food security and potential food shortages locally, nationally and globally, and
• shaping the way towns and cities are developed in the context of a changing climate by analysing the impact of rising temperatures on buildings, infrastructure and urban density.

Meeting the challenge of climate change requires more than ambition – it requires the best possible evidence to inform action. I’m delighted about this new partnership with Dr Khanna and AlphaGeo. Their cutting-edge analytic tools, combined with LSE’s social-science expertise, will allow our researchers to explore the impacts of climate change in unprecedented depth. Together, we’ll generate insights that not only advance knowledge but also help shape smarter policies for adaptation and resilience – strengthening LSE’s role as a global leader in sustainability research and impact.

Visiting Senior Fellow at DSI

In addition to giving LSE researchers access to AlphaGeo’s data and analytical tools, Dr Khanna will also lend his wide-ranging expertise in the field to support projects across the DSI as a Visiting Senior Fellow from September 2025 through August 2027. In this role, he will engage with LSE students and faculty through talks, events and workshops on topics related to his fields of expertise, The position recognises Dr Khanna’s significant contributions to data-driven study of climate change, geopolitics, international development and the relationship between humans and technology.

High quality data is essential for the social sciences to continue to solve the biggest, most complex challenges facing our world today, from the climate crisis to economic inequalities to the movement of people and ideas around the world. But just as important as the data itself are people with the skill, experience and creative insight needed to properly analyse that data and connect the dots that lead to new understanding. We’re thrilled to have Dr Khanna join us as a Visiting Senior Fellow at DSI and for him to work with faculty and students throughout the School on a variety of cutting-edge projects over the coming years.

Dr Khanna joins other distinguished Visiting Appointments at DSI, including LinkedIn and Manas AI founder Reid Hoffman, chief data reporter for the Financial Times John Burn-Murdoch, AI and education expert Professor Mairéad Pratschke, and a variety of other leaders and innovators in the fields of data science, statistics and AI representing institutions throughout higher education, industry, and public service. Visiting appointments like these greatly enrich the intellectual life of the DSI by infusing its work and academic community with unique insights and valuable expertise.

About AlphaGeo

AlphaGeo combines expertise in climate science, financial modelling and machine learning to analyse complex and overlapping datasets to understand how vulnerable communities and financial markets are to climate change. Using a mix of public and proprietary data, their analysis synthesises information on a wide range of factors including population characteristics, economic statistics, meteorological trends and detailed maps of permanent infrastructure, to name just a few, to provide detailed insight into the adaptability of communities at the regional, national and local levels.

AlphaGeo's clients include some of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, pensions, asset managers and institutional investors who leverage its data to future-proof their portfolios in an increasingly complex world. Learn more at: www.alphageo.ai