Biography of Professor Gopi Upreti
- Gopi Upreti
- Aug 6
- 6 min read
Academic Contribution
Professor Gopi Upreti dedicated more than three decades of his illustrious career to Tribhuvan University (TU) in Nepal, where he serves as an emeritus professor at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS). His tenure at TU was marked by ascending various academic echelons and earning the esteemed Best Teacher and Academic Administrator (Campus Chief) Award. This commendation by Tribhuvan University underscores his dedication to excellence in teaching and administration. Professor Upreti’s academic journey is distinguished by his role as Chief Commissioner of the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) and his strategic advisory position with the Environmental Protection Council (EPC) under the Government of Nepal. As an East-West Center (EWC) Doctoral Fellow from 1988-1992 at the University of Hawaii (UH), he laid a strong foundation for his academic career in Sustainable Development and Environmental Conservation and Management.
His dedication to academic excellence is reflected in the publication of dozens of peer-reviewed research articles, review papers in esteemed international journals and book chapters and books in Agriculture, Environmental Sustainability and Water Resource. These works serve as a testament to his profound impact on the fields of agriculture, sustainable development, environmental sustainability, and nature conservation. Through his supervisory mentorship, he guided and inspired graduate students, nurturing the next generation of research scholars and practitioners in ecological agriculture, sustainable environmental resource management, and conservation. Many of his students have risen to prominent academic and research positions in leading universities globally across the USA, Canada, and Europe. His commitment to fostering academic growth and expertise has not only enriched the academic community but has also contributed significantly to global efforts in achieving sustainable development goals. Professor Upreti, a distinguished environmentalist and humanist thinker, has made visibly significant contributions to academia, practical realms of environmentalism, sustainable development, and humanism and human rights activism. His scholarly publications, intellectual leadership, and unwavering commitment earned him many national and international prestigious awards. His noted contributions and achievements include:
Contribution to International Environmentalism
Professor Upreti's journey into the depths of environmental sustainability scholarship was notably marked by his receipt of the prestigious Best Paper Award from the Switzerland-based International Foundation of Environmental Conservation in 1994. This accolade was bestowed upon him for his seminal paper, “Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development Require a New Development Paradigm,” published in the Journal of Environmental Conservation (Vol. 21, pp. 18-29). This seminal work has had a profound impact on the field of environmental conservation and sustainability, inspiring Professor Upreti to delve deeper into the complexities of environmental sustainability, climate crisis, and sustainable development. His scholarly engagement and relentless pursuit of knowledge culminated in the authorship of his ground breaking book, "Ecosociocentrism: The Earth First Paradigm for Sustainable Living," published by Springer Nature in 2023. In this pioneering work, Professor Upreti introduces the innovative conceptual framework of Ecosociocentrism. This framework not only provides a comprehensive understanding of the root causes of the environmental and climate crises in the Anthropocene epoch but also offers transformative pathways for steering our current trajectory towards a more sustainable coexistence on planet Earth. "Ecosociocentrism" is a testament to Professor Upreti’s profound intellectual rigor and critical thinking.
The book critically examines and elucidates how the prevailing unsustainable growth centric development paradigm driven by egocentric consumerism of market capitalism has precipitated alarming environmental and climate challenges. He warns that if this trajectory of planetary destruction continues, it will inevitably lead to catastrophic ecological consequences, imperiling the very fabric of human civilization and the intricate web of life that has evolved over millions of years of evolutionary process. Professor Upreti draws profound inspiration from the intellectual contributions and critical thinking approach of philosopher Professor Noam Chomsky. The resonance of Professor Chomsky's insights is vividly reflected in Professor Upreti’s work. In his book, he eloquently references Chomsky’s articulation of the interconnected crises threatening humanity – global warming, the climate crisis, nuclear warfare, and the deterioration of democracy. This alignment underscores the depth of Upreti's engagement with these existential threats and his commitment to finding sustainable solutions.
Contribution to International Humanism
Professor Upreti is a well-recognized figure in the international humanist movement, serving as a life member of the American Humanist Association (AHA) and the founder of the Humanist Association of Nepal (HUMAN). Under his leadership, HUMAN become a frontline agency in combating superstition, fatalism, casteism, untouchability, dowry practices, and religious and political fundamentalism. Professor Upreti has been steadfast in his advocacy for the fundamental human rights spearheading an uncompromising campaign for the secularization and democratization of Nepali society. Following the advent of democracy in Nepal in 1990, Professor Upreti launched and edited the journal "Humanist Voice," which played a critical role in nurturing the pluralistic fabric of Nepali society and strengthening multiparty democracy. "Humanist Voice" served as a platform for disseminating humanist values and ideals and for resisting repressive forces, including religious and political fundamentalism. A well-recognized human rights defender of Economic, Social, and Cultural Human Rights, Professor Upreti's seminal paper, “Concept of Economic, Social, and Cultural Human Rights: A Comparative Study,” presented at the National Human Rights Conference, significantly influenced government policies on human rights in post-democratic Nepal. Professor Upreti’s intellectual rigor and critical approach are also reflected in his contribution to "The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief," a seminal treatise published by Prometheus Books 2007, New York. He was invited to serve on the editorial advisory board of the “The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief” which showcases Professor Upreti’s commitment to secular humanism and the promotion of rational thought.
International Awards and Honors
Professor Upreti is the recipient of numerous prestigious international awards and honors. His distinguished recognitions underscore significant contributions in global environmentalism and sustainable development, academic scholarship, and global humanist advocacy.
1. Environmental and Climate Policy Laureate: Global STAR Scholars Network appointed Professor Gopi Upreti as the Environmental and Climate Policy Laureate, a prestigious honorary position recognizing his exemplary academic scholarship as a thought leader in global environmental and climate policy in four critical domains:
Reframing environmental policy as a civilizational imperative.
Embedding development ethics and ecological justice in governance.
Advancing regenerative circular economy models inspired by Nature.
Guiding the civilizational shift from the Anthropocene to the Symbiocene.
2. Noam Chomsky Lifetime Achievement Award: Professor Dr. Upreti was honored and awarded the highly prestigious North STAR Noam Chomsky Lifetime Achievement Award on December 12, 2024. This award was presented to Prof. Upreti for his notable contributions toward nature and environmental conservation, promoting the idea of sustainable human living in symbiosis with other living beings, as articulated in his book Ecosociocentrism: The Earth First Paradigm for Sustainable Living published by Springer Nature, and for his substantial contributions to the international humanist movement, insightful articles published in international journals, as well as his overall academic achievements. (https://starscholars.org/gopi-upreti/)
3. Distinguished Environmentalist: The Switzerland-based International Foundation for Environmental Conservation awarded Prof. Upreti with the title and honor of Distinguished International Environmentalist in 1995.
4. Best Paper Award Winer: Switzerland based International Foundation for Environmental Conservation Conferred “Best Paper Award” to Professor Upreti’s seminal paper “Environmental Conservation and sustainable Development Requires A New Development Approach”, published in Environmental Conservation, Vol. 21 (18-29), Switzerland, Lausanne, 1994.
5. Humanist Thinker and Editorial Board Member: The New York-based International Humanist Council granted Prof. Upreti honorary membership as a humanist thinker and also granted him as an editorial board member of the Encyclopedia of Unbelief.
Association with International Organizations
Professor Upreti has played prominent leadership and advisory roles in various professional and social organizations dedicated to humanitarian, educational and literary advancement. His influential positions include Chair of the Global Samata Senate Grant Committee, Co-chair, advisory board of agricultural and community associations, and life memberships in prominent humanist and cultural organizations.
Member, Global STAR Scholars Network
Chair (2024 – Date), Global Samata Senate Grant Committee
Co-chair, Advisory Board (2022 – Date), Association of Nepali Agriculture Professionals in Americas (NAPA)
Chair, Book Award Committee (2018-2022), International Nepali Sahitya Samaj (ANESAS)
Life Member, American Humanist Association (AHA)
Chief Advisor, Equality Foundation
Life Member, America Nepal Society (ANS),
Advisor, Association of Nepali in Americas (ANA)
Advisor, Blood Donors of America (BDA)
Advisor and life member, Jhapali Samaj, America
Published Works
1. Living in Symbiosis with Nature (Prakritiya Sahajibnam), 2025.
2. Ecosociocentrism: The Earth First Paradigm for Sustainable Living, published by Springer Nature, Switzerland, 2023.
3. Humanist Voice (Manavbadi Awaj), Kathmandu, Nepal 2005
4. Nature Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal 2001.
5. Concept of Economic, Social, and Cultural Human Rights, INSEC, 2002
6. Superstitions and Victims of Witchcraft Accusations in Nepal, published by Humanist Association Kathmandu in 2002.
7. Water Resources Development in Nepal and the Arun III Project, published by Arun Concerned Group in 1994.
8. Fundamentals of Horticulture, Tribhuvan University, Curriculum Development Center 1986.
Please visit Professor Upreti’s Website blog for more information:
Email: goupreti@gmail.com Fairfax, Virginia, USA
Author Page URL: amazon.com/author/gopi_upreti
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