Narges Azari

Narges Azari is an Iranian sociologist and researcher specializing in environmental issues and waste management. She holds a PhD in Political Sociology from Allameh Tabataba’i University. Her research explores the links among environmental problems, public policy, and social structures.

Azari’s principal research focus is waste management, particularly in rural areas, and the design of local, institutional, and sustainable responses to the waste crisis. She argues that waste is not merely a technical issue; it is also shaped by governance, public participation, economic mechanisms, and the capacities of local institutions. Her work includes studies on designing and implementing policy models for rural waste management, regulations for small-scale waste-management technologies, and rural waste-management clusters.

Azari previously collaborated with the Center for Strategic Research of the Presidency in the fields of environment and urban affairs. Her work has also addressed water crises, seeking to show that environmental problems are not only consequences of natural change but are social issues that require collective action and effective policymaking.

Her activities at the Strategic Waste Research Think Tank focus on producing policy knowledge, engaging with stakeholders, and proposing practical solutions for waste management. Azari’s approach rests on the view that environmental protection cannot be sustainable without simultaneous attention to social contexts, decision-making institutions, and the participation of local communities.