Kariũki is a researcher interested in diverse topics such as Relational Wellbeing, Inter-generational Equity, and Human Mobility.
Kariũki is a Research Associate within the Environment and Migration: Interactions and Choices Section (EMIC) division of UNU-EHS. He is primarily engaged in the EU Horizon funded project RethinkAction, aimed at instigating both political and behavioural changes to promote climate action and citizen engagement in Europe.
Prior to working in the EMIC division, Kariũki joined UNU-EHS as a Research Assistant in the Well-being, Sustainability and Equity (WiSE) Transformation Initiative in 2021. His work in this role was anchored within the framework of Relational Well-being, which highlights that the well-being(s) of the planet, society and individuals need not come at the expense of each other; the three levels of well-being can instead be fostered concurrently and holistically in a win-win-win scenario, in which individuals have and exercise the capability to lead lives they deem valuable. During his time in WiSE, Kariũki was also part of the UNU Climate Resilience Initiative (CRI), formed of researchers from UNU sister institutes such as UNU-MERIT and UNU-CRIS. His work on this project primarily revolved around the mental health impacts of climate change, aimed at promoting holistic policies for both mitigating and adaptive solutions to health (inclusive of mental health).
Before joining UNU-EHS, Kariũki undertook internships at both UNV and UNCCD, in which he was involved with the strategic and quotidian operations surrounding human-centric people management, as well as supporting the development of the Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) Toolbox respectively.
Kariũki’s research interests often tend towards epistemological issues surrounding the manner and geography within which knowledge is produced, disseminated and understood. This is arguably strongly influenced by his (Heidegger-ian) philosophical background, through which he appreciated that knowledge perceived through one lens often conceals knowledge through other lenses.