Pages (6 results)
TopStudents
ERG’s sixty plus graduate students are geographically and ethnically diverse. About half are in the masters-degree program and half in the PhD program. The students come from a wide variety ... Continue Reading »
Water Group
The ERG Water Group as an interdisciplinary collaboration focused on the social dimensions of water. Members work on issues of equitable access and efficient, sustainable management of freshwater resources for both humans and the environment in the US and across the globe.
Faculty by Primary Interest
Areas of Interest Climate ChangeEcologyEnergyGovernanceWaterInternational Climate Change ERG CORE David Anthoff David Anthoff is an environmental economist who studies climate change and environmental policy. He co-develops the integrated assessment model ... Continue Reading »
Equity Diversity
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at ERG Equity and inclusion are at the heart of our mission to provide education and research for a sustainable and just society. We aspire ... Continue Reading »
Affiliated Faculty
ERG has a small core faculty but a much larger group of affiliated faculty. Affiliated faculty are based in other departments on campus or at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ... Continue Reading »
Awards
Student Awards ERG students have been recognized nationally and internationally for their research. Below, you can find a selection of recent awards received by ERG Masters and PhD students. CAL ... Continue Reading »
Students (2 results)
TopChelsi Sparti
MS
Chelsi belongs to the Winnemem, Nomtipom, and Nomsus bands of the Northern Wintu people, and is of European settler descent. She carries out collaborative research with Puerto Rican residents to ... Continue Reading »
- climate resilience
- decarbonization
- Disaster Recovery
- energy
- environmental justice
- governance
- policy
- Risk Mitigation
Gauthami Penakalapati
MS, PhD
Evaluation of Social Networks and Measures of Empowerment Among Adolescent Girls in Uttar Pradesh, India (MS ’19) Gauthami’s interdisciplinary research intersects global health, feminist theory, science technology studies, social network ... Continue Reading »
- community-based and participatory methods
- development
- GIS
- qualitative methods
- sanitation
- social network analysis
- spatial analysis
- urban planning
- water
- Water Group
Alumni (27 results)
TopPriyanka Mohanty
MS
What are the Best Practices for Rapid and Just Energy Transition? (MS ’22) Priyanka earned her Masters of Science with the Energy and Resources Group. At ERG, she works on ... Continue Reading »
- China
- climate
- development
- economics
- environmental justice
- Green New Deal
- India
- Indonesia
- Low-Carbon Transport
Dipti Bhatnagar
MS
Dipti got her Masters at ERG in 2008. Since then, she went back to India working with communities displaced by dams. She also fought for water justice in California, working ... Continue Reading »
- Africa
- climate
- Climate justice
- common property resource management
- development
- ecology
- energy
- Gender justice dismantling patriarchy
- International climate negotiations
- System change
- water
Arne Jacobson
PhD
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: ARNE JACOBSON Ph.D. 2004 Professor in the Department of Environmental Resources Engineering at Humboldt State University From his post at Humboldt State University, Arne Jacobson passionately extends ... Continue Reading »
- energy use and environmental impacts
- international development
- regional energy planning
- renewable energy
- renewable energy on Native American Reservation lands
- social and economic costs and benefits of energy use
Christopher Williams
MA
The Hands that will Build our Energy Future: Administrative and Labor Capacity for Building Energy Efficiency Policies In China and India (MA ’11)
Ann Thorpe
MA
Organizational Approaches to Wasteland Development: Structural and Functional Aspects of Three Indian NGOs (’89 MA)
Malini Ranganathan
MS, PhD
Can Co-ops become Energy Producers too? Challenges and Prospects for Efficient Co-Generation in India’s Co-Operative Sugar Sector (’05 MS) Fluid Hegemony: A Political Ecology of Water, Market Rule, and Insurgence ... Continue Reading »
- climate change and energy policy in developing countries
- energy and resource efficiency
- equity
- governance
- politics of development and International aid
- reforms
- urban sustainability
Amol Phadke
MS, PhD
Feasibility of Competition in a Developing Country Electricity Market: A Case Study of Maharashtra State (India) (’03 MS) Competition, regulation, and Energy Efficiency Options in the Electricy Sector: Opportunities and ... Continue Reading »
Ashley Muspratt
MS, PhD
Health, Hygiene and Safe Drinking Water: A Process Documentation of an Education and Technology Intervention in the Behram Slum, Mumbai, India (06 MS) “Don’t Think of ‘Waste’ Water”: Evaluation and ... Continue Reading »
- sustainability indicators and the convergence of environmental with social and cultural sustainability
- water and sanitation in developing countries with a particular focus on China and other parts of Asia
Marcus Moench
MS, PhD
Resource Utilization and Degradation: An Integrated Analysis of Biomass Utilization Patterns in a Garhwal Hill Village, Northern Uttar Pradesh, India (’85 MS) From Forest to Agroforest: Land-Use Dynamics and Crop ... Continue Reading »
David Marcus
MA
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT This ERG alumni spotlight features one of the first ERG graduate students, David Marcus (MA’77), and is written by ERG alumna, Sarita Sarvate (MS’78). The piece is the first ... Continue Reading »
Michael Maniates
MA, PhD
Local Governments and Solar Energy: The San Francisco Example (’83 M.A.) Organizing for Rural Energy Development: Improved Cookstoves, Local Organizations, and the State in Gujarat, India (’90 Ph.D.)
- community energy organizing
- consumption and overconsumption
- education
- global environmental politics and civic engagement
- innovative undergraduate environmental-studies initiatives
- rust-belt economics
Sharad Lele
PhD
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: SHARAD LÉLÉ Ph.D. 1993 Senior Fellow, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (Bangalore) Sharad Lele never intended to become an academic. And even though his resume ... Continue Reading »
- alternative models of sustainable development
- analysis of energy use
- biomass resources and biodiversity
- forest ecosystem services
- resource economics
- socio-environmental factors affecting forests
- systems analysis of surface water resource systems
- watershed development
Kersten Johnson
MS
“FuelBelts”: Shelterbelts for Fuelwood Production on Small/Marginal Farms in India (87 M.S.)
Barbara Haya
MS, PhD
Evaluation of World Bank Public Participation Policies-Lessons for the Clean Development Mechanism (’02 MS) Carbon Offsetting: An Efficient Way to Reduce Emissions or to Avoid Reducing Emissions? An Investigation and Analysis of ... Continue Reading »
- equity within international efforts to mitigate climate change
- international finance institutions
- power sector restructuring in South East Asia
- the Clean Development Mechanism
Heidi Fuchs
MS
Water Access in a Changing City: Evaluating Reliance on and Value of Public Borewells in Hubli-Dharwad, India (MS, ’13)
- ecological water management
- energy water nexus - especially in American West
- mitigation and adaptation scenarios for climate change (on local or regional scales)
- social dimensions of environmental change and adaptation
Kevin Fingerman
MS, PhD
The System of Rice Intensification: Lessons from South India (MS ’07) Measuring and moderating the water resource impacts of biofuel production and trade (PhD ’12)
- Agroecology
- ecological and social impacts of increased biofuel production
- focus on India
- water-use efficiency in agriculture
John Elliott
MA
Lowering Energy Bills in American Indian Households: A Case Study of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (’98 M.A.)
- climate change
- endocrine disruptors
- Energy Efficiency
- energy issues for American Indian tribes
- renewable energy
- web-based software for managing energy use
Navroz Dubash
MA, PhD
Commoditizing Carbon: Social and Environmental Implications of Trading Carbon Emissions Entitlements (MA 94) The Agrarian Question and the Institutionalization of Groundwater Exchange in Gujarat, India (PhD 98)
- electricity reform/restructuring
- groundwater
- infrastructure financing
- Political economy
- privatization
- regulation
- rural electricity
- Water Resource Management
Renee Kuriyan Wittemyer
MA, PhD
"23% fewer women than men are online in developing countries. If no concerted effort is taken, that internet gap is going to grow. When women see role models—people doing things—it enables them and empowers them to think, 'Well, I can do that as well.' And, accessing the internet and using technologies exposes them to an entirely new world," says ERG Alum, Dr. Renee (Kuriyan) Wittemyer. She is Intel's Director of Social Impact.
- information and communication technologies and development
- rural development in India
- technology adoption in developing countries
- technology/society relationships
Monica Testa
MA
Monica obtained her Masters in 2015 from the Energy and Resources Group. She is interested in electric vehicle adoption, alternative energy policy, and sustainable energy development. Her research involves modeling ... Continue Reading »
Kripa Jagannathan
MS, PhD
Ready-to-use? Bridging the Climate Science Usability Gap for Adaptation (PhD ’19) Kripa’s research interests are in the field of climate change adaptation and climate-resilient planning. Her PhD focuses on improving ... Continue Reading »
- Adaptation
- Agriculture
- Carbon markets
- climate change
- climate-resilient planning
- co-production of knowledge
- science usability
- stakeholder engagement
- water
Christopher Hyun
MA, PhD
With 10+ years of international field experience, 5+ in water and sanitation, as well as project management and professional development in higher ed, I aim to create a better society and environment for all.
Ranjit Deshmukh
PhD
India’s Low Carbon Electricity Futures (PhD ’17) Ranjit’s research efforts largely focus on addressing the clean energy and energy access challenges in developing nations. As part of both the International ... Continue Reading »
- demand response
- energy access and micro-grids in developing countries
- energy markets
- Energy modeling
- Power Systems
- renewables integration
Zubair Dar
MA
Zubair is a Master’s student who researches water policy and management of international river basins, and is particularly focused on hydro-politics of the Indus basin. He has researched the relationship ... Continue Reading »
- Energy Efficiency
- Hydroelectric Power Projects
- International Conflicts
- River Basin Management
- sustainability
- Water and Renewable Energy
- Water Resource Management
Sharada Prasad Chitradurga Srinivasa Murthy
MS, PhD
When the Pit Fills Up: Fecal Sludge “Management” in Urban India (PhD ’18) Sharada’s research is focused on recovery of nutrients, primarily Phosphorous, from human waste, particularly septage, and their ... Continue Reading »
- development
- GIS
- human waste
- human waste treatment technologies
- microbial heath risk assessment
- nutrient recovery and reuse
- photography
- sanitation
- south asia
- Subaltern Studies
- water
- Water Group
Zachary Burt
MS, PhD
Zach’s research focuses on household water access, treatment and use. He draws on data collected in the field, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative sources. Zach is ultimately interested in the ... Continue Reading »
- cost benefit analysis
- demand forecasting
- demand management
- development
- HWTS
- POU
- safe drinking water
- urban water utilities
- user preferences
- water access
- willingness to pay
News (17 results)
TopEmpowering Women in Rural India: Facebook Spotlights Gauthami Penakalapati
September 13, 2021
ERG PhD student Gauthami Penakalapati was spotlighted by the Facebook Fellowship program for her research, which draws upon gender and feminist theory with the goal of empowering women and young girls in rural India. Her work reveals how colonialism has historically shaped public health data, in turn contributing to a lack of gender equity.
Phadke and Professor Callaway Suggest India Double Down on Renewables ERG Alumni Deshmukh
April 6, 2021
ERG alumni Ranjit Deshmukh, Amol Phadke and associate professor Duncan Callaway recently had their research, "Least-cost targets and avoided fossil fuel capacity in India’s pursuit of renewable energy" published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Their analysis on India’s power usage, weather patterns and energy infrastructure was featured in the The Current, and suggests that the country is "well positioned to take advantage of green energy sources".
ERG Professor Isha Ray on the Reality of Drinking Water Monitoring in Rural India
September 2, 2020
ERG professor Isha Ray recently co-authored and published her research paper, "The reality of water quality monitoring for SDG 6: A report from a small town in India" on IWA Publishing. The paper features their study of microbial water quality in a small town (Alibag) in India, and focuses on the weaknesses of water quality monitoring and testing infrastructure. "We show the practical limitations of monitoring for fecal indicator bacteria to meet SDG 6... We find that even when water quality monitoring and testing infrastructure is in place, low institutional capacity and the pressure to not ‘fail’ the expected water quality standards can result in the failure to accurately report bacterial water quality," the paper states.
India’s emergency in slow motion
May 30, 2015
Professor Isha Ray's piece featured in CNN on the continuing heatwave and deaths in India.
Narain calls for Reinventing India’s Growth
April 22, 2014
Watch Sunita Narain's "thought provoking and disturbing" conversation during ERG's 20th Annual Lecture co-hosted with the Center for South Asia Studies.
ERG’s Andy Jones and Julia Szinai: What a No-Snow Future Means for Water Management
November 4, 2021
A new study from ERG's Andy Jones and Julia Szinai at the Berkeley Lab considers how dwindling mountain snowpacks will implicate water management.
Isha Ray and Chris Hyun Analyze Issues with Water Access Alerts in Bangalore
April 16, 2019
A recent article from UC Berkeley’s Blum Center considers the lessons learned from the trial run of Next drop, an application intended to help residents of Bangalore, India optimize their ... Continue Reading »
Carbon Loopholes: Report by ERG Student Cecilia Springer in New York Times
September 6, 2018
In an article examining the costs of carbon pollution "outsourcing" this week, The New York Times featured a report co-authored by ERG student Cecilia Springer.
Isha Ray: On the Same Page panel discusses current efforts to reduce poverty
November 7, 2015
Watch professor Ray discuss current efforts to reduce poverty.
Solidarity and Survival on the Roof of the World Fire and Ice: Soot
March 25, 2015
Read the adapted excerpt in Slate of a new book by ERG alum Jonathan Mingle (MS'09).
Zoë Chafe leads new WHO Report
March 12, 2015
"We wanted to help policymakers and members of the general public understand that household heating with biomass is a complicated issue," says ERG PhD candidate Zoë Chafe.
Apte Hopeful About New Delhi’s Air
February 15, 2015
Dr. Apte (MS'08, PhD'13) says in The New York Times, "The thing that gives me greatest hope is the huge increase in awareness that I’ve seen in Delhi just in the past year."
Time to implement the U.S.-China climate accord
February 3, 2015
Dr. Dan Kammen in Al Jazeera reminds us not to forget US and China's strategic climate partnership.
Apte & Team Find Alarming Pollution Levels
November 26, 2014
ERG alum measures air quality while riding rickshaws in Delhi.
3 Generations of ERGies Converge in Delhi
November 18, 2014
UCB faculty, staff and alumni meet Dr. John Holdren at the India-US Science and Technology Summit in New Delhi.
Dr. Holdren Handles House Climate Deniers
September 18, 2014
"If the United States does not [limit carbon emissions], it is unlikely that other major emitters in the world — China, India, Russia, Europe, Japan — will do so either."
Professor Ray & Team Selected for 2014 Obama-Singh Award
August 25, 2014
The Berkeley team will work with faculty from IIT Bombay on a 3-year effort titled the Sustainable Indian Water Infrastructure Project (SIWIP): A Systems Approach.
Topics (3 results)
TopPriyanka Mohanty
MS
What are the Best Practices for Rapid and Just Energy Transition? (MS ’22) Priyanka earned her Masters of Science with the Energy and Resources Group. At ERG, she works on ... Continue Reading »
- China
- climate
- development
- economics
- environmental justice
- Green New Deal
- India
- Indonesia
- Low-Carbon Transport
D. Asher Ghertner
MA, PhD
Shifting Environmental Trends: A Life-Cycle, Consumption-Based Approach to Environmental Indicators (’04 MA) Rule by Aesthetics: World-Class City Making in Delhi (’10 PhD)