Selin Named TUM Ambassador at Annual Advent Concert

Henrik Selin, Professor of International Relations at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, was honored as a TUM Ambassador at the Technical University of Munich’s (TUM) annual Advent Concert on December 1, 2024. The ceremony, held at the Isarphilharmonie in Munich, recognized five distinguished international researchers for their contributions to TUM’s academic community.
The TUM Ambassador program, established in 2013, celebrates researchers who have enriched TUM through their scientific expertise and international experience. Selin’s appointment stems from his work as a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at TUM’s Institute for Advanced Study, where he collaborated with Professor Miranda Schreurs in the Focus Group on Pollutants and Sustainability Governance.
During his fellowship, Selin’s research developed new multidisciplinary analysis methods for understanding how people and technology interact in environmental governance. His work examined empirical cases of pollutants, including mercury and pesticides, illuminating underappreciated dynamics of environmental and societal pollutant flows.

The 2024 TUM Ambassador cohort includes other distinguished scholars: Professor Gustavo Henrique Goldman (Universidade de São Paulo), Professor Ron M.A. Heeren (Maastricht University), Professor Noelle Selin (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Professor Iris Tommelein (University of California, Berkeley).
TUM President Thomas F. Hofmann presented the awards before an audience of approximately 2,000 guests. “These outstanding scientists bring invaluable knowledge and commitment and foster a vibrant environment of international collaboration and innovation at TUM,” noted President Hofmann during the ceremony.
Selin has been at Boston University since 2004, where his research focuses on global and regional environmental governance. He is the author of several influential books, including “Mercury Stories: Understanding Sustainability through a Volatile Element” and “Global Governance of Hazardous Chemicals: Challenges of Multilevel Management.” He currently serves as Editor for the journal Global Environmental Politics. Selin plans to spend much of his upcoming 2025 sabbatical at TUM, further strengthening the international academic partnership. Learn more about Professor Selin on his faculty profile.