Interview with Prof. Aya Kachi
 

Could you maybe tell us a little bit about yourself and your academic journey?
 

I'm an Associate Professor for International Political Economy and Energy Policy. And in the past 10 years - actually, I keep saying that, but it's more than 10 years - I’ve been working on policy processes, both in research and teaching, related to policy fields like energy and climate policy.
On the one hand, I'm really interested in looking into how people form their opinions and behave regarding energy and climate issues - so that's the micro level. On the other hand, I’ve also been looking into why some countries do certain things or don’t do certain things regarding international climate policymaking. So, that's my profile.

We read that you completed your bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD all around the world. What motivated you to pursue such an international path, and how did you end up here in Basel?

Yeah, thanks for asking. So, it was never planned to be all over the place. However, I was always interested in an international policy career.
When I was studying economics for my bachelor’s at the University of Tokyo, I was dreaming of working for international organizations like the World Bank, IMF, or other UN organizations. To do that, I read that having a social science or economics PhD would help, ideally from an English or French-speaking country.
So, I decided to do a PhD in economics, which led me to the US. Somehow, I got more interested in politics, so I changed my field to political science. A research position after my PhD led me to ETH Zurich - that's how I ended up in Switzerland.
I really liked the research environment and started looking into climate issues. I found a professorship at the University of Basel, applied, and luckily it worked out. Since then, I’ve been here.

You’re now an Associate Professor for International Political Economy and Energy Policy. How did your research interests evolve toward that focus?

Yeah, it came very naturally, and I was fortunate. As I said, I’ve always been interested in international policymaking - how governments negotiate, and so on. Climate and energy have become central policy topics globally, so the field naturally aligned with my interests.
When I was a student, international trade and trade negotiations were big, like climate is now. We studied political economy using trade agreement examples. So for me, this combination of current policy issues and international policymaking was a natural fit.

You look for information worldwide. How do you collect your data? Is there a primary source?

That’s a very good question. Tackling current questions often means using different data sources.
For example, there’s great emissions data compiled by the EU, called EDGAR, which covers almost all countries. But linking emissions to political and economic systems is crucial.
We use data like the World Bank's World Development Indicators (GDP, fossil fuel revenues, etc.) and political science datasets on regimes. Knowing where to look and having data analytics skills to merge it all is key. That merging step is the "annoying" part. But once it’s done, you can analyze and get insights.

Is artificial intelligence important in scaling the data?

Good question. It depends what we mean by AI. Running large regression models has always been a kind of machine learning - it just wasn’t called that.
Now, we can process more data efficiently, try more model specifications, and even mine text. Tedious manual work has become easier thanks to AI. So yes, we have better data and better capacity.

Are the data based only on past actions, or do you also include future plans and forecasts?

Personally, I don’t do much forecasting. My work focuses on the past: analyzing why decisions were made or public opinion formed a certain way. So I stay with hard facts.

You also teach in Riyadh at the KAPSARC School of Public Policy. What led you there, and what’s your experience been like?

Formally, I knew some researchers there. KAPSARC is a large, state-funded oil engineering and energy economics research institute. It wasn’t an academic institute until recently.
But due to the 2060 net-zero goal as part of the Saudi Vision 2030, they wanted to open a public policy school to educate students on sustainability transitions. I got the chance to be a visiting professor there.
Interestingly, I teach what I don’t teach in Basel: data analytics for public policy, using emissions and policy data, plus R programming. I love it.
Saudi is changing fast, and there’s a real sense of energy - people are excited to be part of change. It’s not just government; citizens and researchers are also involved. It’s inspiring.

Is there a big difference between students in Basel and Riyadh?

Actually, no. That’s good, right?
Of course, the composition differs - many students in Riyadh studied engineering first. Now they’re transitioning to public policy. But the classroom energy, the curiosity - it’s the same. And I love that.

Your classes are known for being interactive. Why is that important to you?

There are a few reasons. First, I was educated in interactive classrooms - so that’s what I know.
Also, sitting in a room for two to four hours… you’ve got to be active! Interaction helps everyone check their understanding in real-time. It makes learning more effective and fun.

Many students voted for you in the fall semester. Why do you think your teaching resonates with them?

Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t have a comparison.
Last fall, I co-taught a new course on sustainable real estate while juggling many research projects. I was exhausted!
I love teaching, but it was a tough semester. That’s why this recognition was so surprising - and humbling.
It makes me really happy. I guess it means my natural way of interacting worked. And I really want to thank the students, because their questions often inspire my research.

Can you give an example?

Sure. A student once asked: “Why are many resource-rich countries like in West Africa still poor and less educated, while countries like UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are wealthier and more stable?”
That question made me think - maybe the difference is in how much governments invest in public goods like education. That led me to add a new variable to my study. It’s making a difference!

What does Basel mean to you? Do you have a favorite place in the city?

Basel is an international and multicultural place within Switzerland, which makes me feel at home. It’s also a place with high academic and life quality.
My favorite place? It’s hard to pick… But maybe the Alte Universität building near the Rhein. That was where I taught my first course in 2015. The beauty of that place, and the memory of preparing new lectures with sleepless nights, still stays with me.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I’m a normal person! I go to the gym a lot - it balances all the sitting. I also love hiking with close friends. It’s the best thing in Switzerland.

What’s your favorite part about teaching?

Definitely the moment in class when things “click” - when you feel the shared understanding in the room. That’s the best.

As a child, did you dream of becoming something completely different?

Oh yes! First, I wanted to be a flight attendant - I never told my parents. Then, I dreamed of working for the UN.
I never consciously planned to become a professor. I didn’t even know how to become one! It just happened naturally.