Hailing from the Netherlands, Timo Zandstra has spent the past eight years in the vibrant city of Amsterdam. With academic accomplishments including a BSc and an LLB from the University of Amsterdam, along with an LLM from Utrecht University, Timo brings a wealth of knowledge to the EUI Law Department. His academic journey also includes two years of teaching international law and legal theory at the University of Amsterdam's interdisciplinary undergraduate programme PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics).
When asked about his choice to pursue a PhD at the EUI, Timo indicates the Institute's strong emphasis on interdisciplinary exchange and methodological innovation as his primary motivation. His research focuses on the role of international law in the scramble for the 'critical minerals' – such as lithium, copper, and nickel – that are crucial to realising the green transition. As the demand for these critical minerals is set to skyrocket, investors and governments increasingly turn to international law to secure access to them and explore new sites for their extraction. At the same time, activists and local communities also rely on international law to contain the negative impact of mining on vulnerable people and ecologies. Timo is interested in how international law mediates between these competing demands; his work is inspired by the efforts of social movements advocating for climate justice and hopes that his research may ultimately serve as a useful resource for them.
While Timo is currently immersed in his PhD research, he has a love for teaching. He envisions a future where he can return to the classroom, sharing his knowledge and passion with students. Beyond the world of academia, Timo enjoys endurance cycling. Last August, he embarked on a remarkable journey cycling 1600 km from Amsterdam to Florence. He humorously notes that no climb on this journey proved as challenging as the road from the EUI's Villa Salviati to the Badia Fiesolana.
We warmly welcome Timo to the EUI community and we eagerly look forward to the contributions he will make to the field of international law.