Personal profile
Research interests
Raúl Velasco-Fernández is a transdisciplinary scholar whose work examines the entanglements between resource use and human activities. His research focuses on the systemic interrelations among energy, time use, materials, care, and economic development. More specifically, he investigates societal metabolism from a biophysical and multiscale perspective, drawing on biophysical economics, complex systems theory, and critical political economy. He has contributed to the development of analytical tools within the Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM) framework, including the End-Use Matrix, and has applied them to diverse case studies in China, the European Union, the United States, and India. More recently, his research has extended metabolic analysis to the study of care work and other non-commodified human activities, exploring how these are organized within and beyond households. His work also critically appraises ecomodernist narratives through the lens of technologies of humility and examines how practice theory and metabolic approaches can reframe debates on innovation and efficiency at the science–policy interface. He is further interested in wicked sustainability problems, the democratic governance of socio-ecological limits, and the development of analytical tools for the study of self-limitation and socio-ecological transformation in post-growth contexts.
Education/Academic qualification
Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Technology , Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB)
Award Date: 31 Jul 2017
Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability
Award Date: 1 Jun 2012
Bachelor in Sociology, Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
Award Date: 1 Feb 2012
Industrial Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Award Date: 31 Oct 2008
External positions
Researcher, Barcelona Institute for Regional and Metropolitan Studies (IERMB)
1 Nov 2020 → 31 Dec 2021
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Desinstitucionalización del cuidado de largo duración, reto demográfico e inclusión social: reconocimiento y redistribución del trabajo y las necesidades de cuidado
Moreno Colom, S. (Principal Investigator), Chrétien, J. M. (Collaborator), Valdivia Gutierrez, B. (Collaborator), Velasco Fernandez, R. (Collaborator), Llorens Serrano, C. A. (Investigator), Martínez Tola, E. (Investigator) & Roca Escoda, M. (Investigator)
1/09/25 → 31/08/28
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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REAL: A Post Growth Deal
Hickel , J. E. (Principal Investigator), Grosinger , J. (Investigator), Stevenson, C. N. (Predoctoral), Goyal, M. (Predoctoral), Tayyab, O. (Predoctoral), Kaan, O. (Investigator), Slamersak , A. (Investigator), Fearon , S. (Investigator), Sullivan , D. J. (Predoctoral), Arellano Baeza, J. P. (Technician), Velasco Fernandez, R. (Investigator) & Hanbury Lemos, M. M. (Predoctoral)
European Commission (EC), ERC Synergy Grant
1/05/23 → 30/04/29
Project: International research project
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REAL: A Post Growth Deal
Kallis , G. (Principal Investigator), Grosinger , J. (Investigator), Tsagkari, M. (Investigator), Dalisa, G. (Investigator), Gilbert, D. (Investigator), Khan, F. (Predoctoral), Pape, J. (Predoctoral), Dallas, O. (Investigator), Driouich, R. (Predoctoral), Masek Sanchez, V. (Predoctoral), Velasco Fernandez, R. (Investigator), Russell ., B. T. (Investigator) & Arellano Baeza, J. P. (Technician)
European Commission (EC), ERC Synergy Grant
1/05/23 → 30/04/29
Project: International research project
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Municipis resilients a les pandèmies mitjançant el nexe de l'agricultura de proximitat, energia, aigua i residus. Del pilot al municipi
Gabarrell Durany, X. (Principal Investigator), Sanchez Ferrer, A. (Investigator), Villalba Mendez, G. (Investigator), Gea Leiva, M. T. (Investigator), Rovira Val, M. R. (Investigator), Barrena Gomez, R. (Investigator), Pont Castejon, I. (Investigator), Madrid López, C. (Investigator), Talens Peiro, L. (Investigator), Badia Moragas, A. (Investigator), Mendoza Beltran, A. (Investigator), Alejandra Cerda Llanos (Investigator), Moral Vico, A. J. (Investigator), Gasol Martinez, C. (Investigator), Muñoz Odina, P. (Investigator), Arcas Pilz, V. (Investigator), Stringari ., G. (Investigator), Rufi Salis, M. (Investigator), Pena , A. M. (Investigator), Tonini ., P. (Investigator), Gonzalez Atero, R. (Investigator), Toboso Chavero, S. (Investigator), Parada Molina, F. A. (Investigator), Langemeyer , J. (Investigator), Gassó-Domingo, S. (Investigator), Cuerva Contreras, E. (Investigator), Molins Cabaní, S. (Collaborator), Gonzalez Ale, D. (Collaborator), Font Segura, X. (Collaborator), Francisco, G. R. (Collaborator), Artola Casacuberta, A. (Collaborator), Velasco Fernandez, R. (Collaborator), Evangelista ., G. (Collaborator), Orsini, F. (Collaborator), Petit Boix, A. (Collaborator), Sanclemente Crespo, M. (Collaborator), Appolloni, E. (Collaborator) & Zambrano, P. (Collaborator)
14/05/21 → 13/11/22
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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MAGIC: Moving Towards Adaptative Governance in Complexity: Informing Nexus Security - MAGIC
Giampietro , M. (Principal Investigator), Brouwer, F. M. (Investigator), Bukkens, S. (Investigator), Cabello Villarejo, V. (Investigator), Cadillo Benalcazar, J. J. (Investigator), Di Felice, L. J. (Investigator), Gilbert, G. N. (Investigator), Hernández-Mora Zapata, N. (Investigator), Kovacic , Z. (Investigator), Lemkow Zetterling, L. (Investigator), Pahl-Wostl, C. (Investigator), Piano , S. L. (Investigator), Reinert, E. S. (Investigator), Renner ., A. F. (Investigator), Ripa, M. (Investigator), Serrano Tovar, E. T. (Investigator), Velasco Fernandez, R. (Investigator), Wehn, U. (Investigator) & Madrid López, C. (Investigator)
1/06/16 → 30/09/20
Project: International research project
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MuSIASEM nexus analysis in post-industrial societies: Import dependence in Andorra
Larrabeiti-Rodríguez, J. J., Travesset-Baro, O., Giampietro, M. & Velasco-Fernández, R., Feb 2026, In: Ecological Economics. 240, 14 p., 108792.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Impact of aging on time allocation and energy consumption patterns in Japan and Spain
Velasco-Fernández, R. & Matsumoto, S., Jan 2025, Energy Consumption and Aging Populations: Experiences from Japan and Spain: Experiences from Japan and Spain. Taylor and Francis AS, p. 72-95 24 p. (Energy Consumption and Aging Populations: Experiences from Japan and Spain).Research output: Chapter in Book › Chapter › Research › peer-review
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Population aging, societal time, and household energy use beyond home
Velasco-Fernández, R., Matsumoto, S. & Giampietro, M., 2025, Energy Consumption and Aging Populations: Experiences from Japan and Spain. Taylor and Francis AS, p. 120-141 22 p. (Energy Consumption and Aging Populations: Experiences from Japan and Spain).Research output: Chapter in Book › Chapter › Research › peer-review
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Population and household trends in Japan and Spain: Impact of aging on pensions and healthcare expenditures
Inoue, N. & Velasco-Fernández, R., 1 Jan 2025, Energy Consumption and Aging Populations: Experiences from Japan and Spain. Taylor and Francis AS, p. 3-15 13 p. (Energy Consumption and Aging Populations: Experiences from Japan and Spain).Research output: Chapter in Book › Chapter › Research › peer-review
1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Where’s the data? Challenges in characterizing the sustainability of socioecological systems
Boucher, J. L., Alfonso-Bécares, D., Larrabeiti-Rodríguez, J. J., Marcos-Valls, A., Jácome, R. M. P., Ripa, M., Taghdisian, A., Velasco-Fernández, R. & Matthews, K., 5 Sept 2025, In: Sustainability Nexus Forum. 33, 1, 15.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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