M M Golam Rabbani
Project Support Officer (EDI Researcher)
Profile
Biography
Dr Rabbani is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Researcher at York Trials Unit. He works on UPTURN, an NIHR-funded study that aims to improve the uptake of pulmonary rehabilitation among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from Bangladeshi, Black African and Caribbean communities in England. His role includes qualitative interviews, patient and public involvement, co-design, data analysis, translation and community engagement.
He has also worked on the SAME Study, which explored the experiences of South Asian adults using mental health services. Before joining York Trials Unit, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Lancaster University, where he studied climate adaptation, changing livelihoods and youth entrepreneurship in South Asia and West African countries.
He completed his PhD in Environment and Geography at the University of York. His research interests bring together ethnic health inequalities and climate-related health risks, including mental health. He is particularly interested in working with communities whose experiences are often overlooked in research and public services.
Qualification
- PhD, Environment & Geography, University of York (2023)
- MA, Social Research, University of York (2018)
- MA, Environment, Development and Policy, University of Sussex (2009)
- BA, Bengali Language & Literature, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
(2006)
Research
Overview
Golam is interested in applying qualitative and mixed-method approaches to explore the physical and mental effects of environmental stresses. Additionally, he designs and implements rehabilitation programs tailored to help individuals cope with these stresses.
Projects
- UPTURN - Co-design and evaluation of an intervention to increase UPTake of pUlmonary RehabilitatioN for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the UPTURN study.
Previous Projects
- SAME - South Asian Mental health service Engagement (SAME) Study
Research group(s)
Publications
Selected publications
- Achinanya, A., Tabassum, T., Rabbani, G., Lawrence, L., Early, F., Fuld, J. and Prinjha, S., 2026. Mapping Researcher Identity in Culturally Diverse Teams Investigating Health Inequalities in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review Protocol. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 25,
https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069261416. - Auslender, E., Weatherill, C. and Rabbani, M. M. G., 2026. The climate refugee misnomer. Environmental Politics, pp.1-8. DOI: ttps://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2026.2724664
- Mishu, M., Rabbani, M. M. G., Vereeken, S., Tkach, E., Martin-Kerry, J., Chowdhury, T. F., Wahab, A., Mashreky, S., Huque, R., Friend, R. (2025) Identifying Interventions to support Mental Health for those affected by climate change and related extreme weather events: a scoping review International Journal of Environmental Health Research CIJE DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2025.2568035.
- Rabbani, M. M. G. and Cotton, M. (2025) Risk perception and climate change migration decision-making. Environmental Hazards DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17477891.2025.2492320.
- Mishu, M. P., Rabbani, M. M. G., Vereeken, V. (2024) Association between mental health, climate change, and related interventions: a scoping review [Abstract Published on Lancet in November 2024]
- Khan, T and Rabbani, M. (2024). Microplastic Impacts on Greenhouse Gases Emissions in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Open Journal of Soil Science, Vol. 14, No. 1 DOI: 10.4236/ojss.2024.141004
- Rabbani, M. M. G., Cotton, M., Friend, R. (2022). Climate change and non-migration: exploring place relations in rural and coastal Bangladesh. Population and Environment, Springer, 43 (4) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-022-00402-3
- UK Data Services repository 1: Roy M, Barker P, Kabir ME, Rabbani MMG, Alam MT, Faruk M, Das TK, Haque SE, Shamsuddoha M, Jabed MA, Rabbi SNA, Imran A, Islam MS, Sikder MHK, Akther B, Afreen M, Setu ZA, Rahman MM, Hossain MS, Salam A, Biswas MA, Islam MT, Sina C, Islam MZ, Akter T, Khudija, Satu SB, Gain SK, Ahmed MF, Sanyal MK and Roy S. (2026). Living Deltas Hub: Patterns and Drivers of Livelihood Shifts in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta, Bangladesh, 2021-2024. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-858552.
- UK Data Services repository 2: Roy M, Barker P, Kabir ME, Rabbani MMG, Alam MT, Faruk M, Das TK, Haque SE, Shamsuddoha M, Jabed MA, Rabbi SNA, Imran A, Islam MS, Sikder MHK, Akther B, Afreen M, Setu ZA, Rahman MM, Hossain MS, Salam A, Biswas MA, Islam MT, Sina C, Islam MZ, Akter T, Khudija, Satu SB, Gain SK, Ahmed MF, Sanyal MK and Roy S. (2026). Living Deltas Hub: Role of Youth Entrepreneurship in Diversifying Delta Livelihoods, Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna Delta, Bangladesh, 2019-2024. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-858558.
External activities
Overview
Golam has authored four children's books (ages 8-12) on climate change and sustainable living, published in 2024 by Gharami Prakashan in Bangladesh. These books are available both online and in local bookstores.
While working under the UPTURN project as an EDI researcher, I have led the following blogs: a) COPD and Ethnic Health Inequities in England: A Call for Inclusive Research, b) Co-designing the UPTURN Intervention: A Collaborative Leap Forward, and c) UPTURN and the Pre-Ramadan Community Health Fair in Rochdale.
Rabbani, M. M. G., Cotton, M. What binds us to a disaster-prone land? Climate adaptation and 'place obduracy' in southwestern Bangladesh. Weather Matters, SPRING/SUMMER SERIES 2024, Link: https://www.weathermatters.net/rabbani-and-cotton
Media coverage
Golam directed a short documentary in 2021 titled "Howling from Bangladesh: Can You Hear It?" which explores the impacts of climate change and uncertain future. The documentary is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruqsfkoqpSA
