Lecture:  From Literary Criticism to Community Benefits Plans: How the Humanities Can Support Just Climate Futures

In this talk, Dr. Henry discusses his career trajectory from a PhD in English at Arizona State University to his research position at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he leads interdisciplinary research projects and works with communities to support a just and equitable energy transition. He will also discuss the importance of the humanities to climate research and professional pathways and skills transferability for humanities graduate students interested in non-academic careers in climate change and renewable energy.  

Dr. Matt Henry; current NREL Researcher, is a former student of Dr. Joni Adamson, BRIDGES Flagship Hub, Arizona State University, and has his PHD in the environmental humanities (with a focus on water and just transition). Dr Henry explains in his lecture how his humanities education contributed to his ability to engage in just energy transition work at a national lab. His focus is specifically community benefits planning to meet the SDGs specifically in Clean and Affordable Energy and Climate Change Action.  Relating to SDG 10, SDG 13, SDG 17.