What is the focus of your work?

Most of my research is at the intersection of energy and the environment. I am passionate about researching the global transition to a renewable energy system. We are frequently discussing climate change in terms of the challenges it poses to humanity for the 21st century. Without a doubt, it is a massive challenge; but it is also a great opportunity to create a new energy system, one which is not only cleaner but also more equitable and decentralized. This is why I study the diffusion of solar panels, the development of an infrastructure for charging electric cars, the transformation of the electric utility sector, and the growth of renewable energy industries. More generally, I study various social change processes, from anti-corruption movements to movements for local food.

Tell us about the broad impact it has/could have.

I know it is a bumper sticker slogan, but I really like the saying “minds are like parachutes… they only function when open”. Like most academics, I hope my research opens minds a little bit and, therefore, makes our communities and the world a tiny bit better. I am thrilled when I hear my students say during class that they learned something new and important. There are many great things about the current society: we have access to an unprecedented amount of information, we have better technology to help us improve public health, we can travel faster than ever, etc. At the same time, there are several concerning trends, from the “culture wars” and the polarization of the political arena, to the production of greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and cause environmental destruction and human suffering. As a social scientist, I feel it is my responsibility to understand other people’s ideas, to raise awareness about important issues, and to engage in open discussions with students and the public about how to make scientifically informed and ethically balanced decisions.

What excites you about the environment in CLAS?

Interdisciplinarity is a bit of a buzzword, but I truly enjoy talking with people from other disciplines and learning about how they look at the world in general, their methodology, and their conceptual frameworks. CLAS is a perfect environment for this. We all have our own professional jargon and biases, but I find it intellectually stimulating to interact with colleagues from other disciplines. For example, I was involved in several sustainability-related events through CLAS and I was excited to discover new ways of thinking about the relationship between the natural environment and society from my colleagues in other departments. In the future, I look forward to participating in the Environmental Justice initiative, which will deepen the connections I have made with colleagues from other departments.

What are your hobbies and pursuits outside of work?

I like running. Perhaps it is because running gives us time to reflect and deal with the difficult things in our lives, as argued in the story The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner. Or perhaps it is masochism… I also like biking, hiking, and skiing. Recently I started to play guitar every day—the pandemic has given me more time to practice. There is so much good music on the Internet these days, it is amazing to be able to learn from incredibly talented people from around the world.

Favorite things to do in Iowa City?

I love to bike with my family. My wife and I know the locations of all the ice cream and cupcake stores in town because we use them as destination points to motivate our kids. We also like to hike at the Coralville Reservoir, Kent park, and other parks. In the pre-pandemic days, we used to go to music concerts at the Englert Theater and Hancher Auditorium, watch films at Film Scene, and visit the Iowa City Arts Festival and the Iowa City Jazz Festival. We also love the public libraries in Iowa City and Coralville. We think Iowa City is a great place to raise our family—for us, it is as close to perfect as it can be without mountains in driving distance…