Institute at Brown for Environment & Society (IBES)

One week away! Hear from IBES/Brown Anthropology Asst Prof Myles Lennon, author of "Subjects of the Sun: Solar Energy in the Shadows of Racial Capitalism," in-person or online on Saturday, Oct 18. https://events.brown.edu/ibes/event/319066-ibes-book-talk-professor-myles-lennon-on-subjects-of-

A decade of discovery: Voss fellowships turn curiosity into climate solutions Ten years of research projects, countless ideas, one shared mission: to build a sustainable future.

Last month, dozens of alumni and friends gathered to celebrate the impact of IBES’ Voss fellowships and honor Peter Voss ’68, P’98 and Pamela Voss P’98 for their steadfast support that has launched careers, advanced knowledge, and strengthened communities. https://ibes.brown.edu/news/voss-symposium

IBES faculty help shape Climate Week 2025 From the Explorers Club to the United Nations Headquarters, IBES faculty were at the forefront of Climate Week, contributing expertise on the cryosphere, climate obstruction, and global science fundin...

From the Explorers Club to the UN Headquarters, IBES professors helped shape #ClimateWeek2025, contributing expertise on the cryosphere, climate obstruction, and global science funding.

Learn how three faculty members spent the week ⬇️

@christiandownie.bsky.social, a professor at @anuregnet.bsky.social and a scholar in the IBES-based @cssn.org, spoke to @australia.theguardian.com about “intentional efforts from coal and gas and their enablers” that have led to climate policy inaction in Australia.

Tomorrow (!) at SREE: Sohil Malik will be presenting *new* research from our team, "Pollution and Environmental Contamination Sites Near US Schools: A National Analysis"

Symposium #543 in Salon 7, 9:00am on Friday
Hope to see you there!

Join the IBES team! We seek a Program Manager serve as a key leader in shaping the vision, strategy, and execution of the IBES-led Equitable Climate Futures Initiative and the Academic Climate Leadership Group.

Learn more & apply: brown.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/staff-...

How should we talk about climate change? - TPR: The Public's Radio On Possibly we're always thinking about the most effective way to talk about climate change. So we turned to Potential Energy, a marketing firm for planet earth, for some tips.

On Possibly we’re always thinking about the most effective way to talk about climate change. What words resonate with people? And what makes people tune us out?

So we turned to @pe-coalition.bsky.social, a marketing firm for planet earth, for some tips
thepublicsradio.org/possibly-pod...

Brown professor’s recent book explores the gloomy side of solar panels The book, by Assistant Professor of Environment and Society and Anthropology Myles Lennon ’06, came out this summer. 

"Solar power is often lauded by policymakers as an equitable solution to the climate crisis. But a book by Myles Lennon, an assistant professor of environment and society, argues that its implementation can still exploit marginalized communities."

Read more from @browndailyherald.bsky.social:

"I'm a primatologist because I had a hero I could look up to," said IBES Voss Postdoc Elodie Freymann of Jane Goodall. "She encouraged my entire generation to go out and do it. ... She set the course of my entire life professionally and the values I believe in."

IBES Book Talk | Professor Myles Lennon on Subjects of the Sun: Solar Energy in the Shadows of Racial Capitalism With Myles Lennon, Dean’s Assistant Professor of Environment and Society & Anthropology Moderated by Bathsheba Demuth, Dean’s Associate...

Saturday, 10/18 at 10AM: Join the Brown community on Family Weekend for a book talk with Myles Lennon featuring his latest publication, "Subjects of the Sun: Solar Energy in the Shadows of Racial Capitalism." Sponsored by @brown-ibes.bsky.social. A livestream of this event will be available.

Prof @timmonsroberts.bsky.social testified before the Australian Parliament's Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy this week.

Hear him answer questions & detail climate obstruction research by @climatedevlab.bsky.social & @cssn.org: www.youtube.com/live/5KtYSXz...

How can we help scientists tell their stories? - TPR: The Public's Radio Science has a communication problem. This week on Possibly we’re taking a look at an audio-storytelling organization, called Transom, that’s trying to help fix it.

Science has a communication problem. It's hard for scientists' research to reach everyday people. This week on Possibly we’re taking a look at the audio-storytelling organization, @transom.bsky.social that’s teaching scientists how to fix it.
thepublicsradio.org/possibly-pod...

Air quality in R.I. a problem that just won’t blow over On a typical week, PACE Organization of Rhode Island might have about 11% to 14% of its seniors cancel their visits to the nonprofit’s service centers. But when air quality alerts go into effect – an ...

Professor Meredith Hastings, leader of the hyperlocal air monitoring project Breathe Providence, spoke to @jacquelynvoghel.bsky.social about elevated concentrations of particulate matter across Rhode Island's capital.

I’m very lucky to work with Myles, and am so excited to hear him talk about his amazing new book in a few weeks!

Join IBES for a Family Weekend book talk! Asst Prof Myles Lennon will discuss his new book, Subjects of the Sun, in a conversation moderated by Assoc Prof @brdemuth.bsky.social.

Oct 18, 10-11am, 85 Waterman St & online
events.brown.edu/ibes/event/3...
@brownanthro.bsky.social @brownhist.bsky.social

“What this study tells me is that what’s happening in Yellowstone is very special,” IBES's Tyler Kartzinel told @beccapox.bsky.social. “Animals...are changing the way plant communities grow and respond. And that has cascading effects on nutrient cycling and the functioning of the entire ecosystem.”

IBES Assistant Professor @danibarra.bsky.social is co-author of a recent paper in @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social, which provides a new framework for examining how organisms have fundamentally altered ecosystems on a global scale across deep time. Read more from @unlincoln.bsky.social ⤵️

Is the Seine River really safe for swimming? - TPR: The Public's Radio The Seine River in Paris has been closed to public swimming for more than 100 years, but it reopened to swimmers this summer. We talked to two people who took a dip.

The Seine River in Paris has been closed to public swimming for more than 100 years, but it reopened to swimmers this summer. This week on Possibly we talked to two people who took a dip.
thepublicsradio.org/possibly-pod...

IBES Fellow helps launch Africa’s first parrot museum Professor Nancy Jacobs, along with three Brown students and local partners, recently opened a new museum in Uganda to connect communities with endangered wildlife.

In the heart of Bigodi, Uganda, a new museum is giving both locals and tourists a chance to discover the story of the endangered Grey Parrot.

Learn more about the efforts of Prof Nancy Jacobs (an IBES Fellow in @brownhist.bsky.social), her students, and Ugandan conservationist Nick Byaba ⤵️

A new article co-authored by IBES affiliate @jenniferhadden.bsky.social, an associate professor at @watsonschoolbrown.bsky.social, "reveals a salient and growing policy problem: the current U.S. housing policy regime creates tradeoffs between promoting equity and addressing climate risk."

Media highlights: IBES Director, 80+ scientists respond to federal climate report IBES Director Kim Cobb is one of dozens of scientists working to counter the Trump administration's efforts to weaken pollution regulations.

The US Dept of Energy released a report this summer that casts doubt on the severity of climate change. In response, IBES Director @kimcobb.bsky.social and fellow climate experts have banded together to “set the record straight” on climate science.

See highlights from the cohort's campaign ⤵️

Spend a day with Ella Gillen '27! Supported by the IBES Summer Internship Program, Gillen spent her summer working with the Stormwater Innovation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to improving Rhode Island water quality and stormwater management.
ibes.brown.edu/opportunitie...

How is New York City keeping its residents cool?  - TPR: The Public's Radio The biggest city in the country has taken a proactive approach to protect its residents from extreme heat. Programs have tried to make cooling centers, pools, and air conditioners more easily availabl...

New York City has taken a proactive approach to protect its residents from extreme heat. This week on Possibly we take a look at how they've pulled it off: by making cooling centers, pools, and air conditioners more accessible to people.
thepublicsradio.org/possibly-pod...

Though disappointed, environmental faculty understand Brown’s pause on net-zero emissions efforts The University announced last month that its carbon reduction efforts would be paused for the year due to its financial deficit.

Due to financial strain brought about by a federal agreement & an ongoing budget deficit, Brown has put a hold on its carbon reduction efforts.

While IBES faculty members & affiliates see the pause as a setback, many told @browndailyherald.bsky.social they recognize why the decision had to be made.

What does the stop-work order on Revolution Wind mean for Rhode Islanders? - TPR: The Public's Radio Last month the Department of the Interior stopped construction on a Rhode Island wind farm that was 80% complete. This week on Possibly we break down what the order means clean energy, jobs, and your ...

Last month the Department of the Interior stopped construction on a Rhode Island wind farm that was 80% complete. This week on Possibly we break down what the order means for Rhode Islanders: our clean energy, jobs, and utility bills.
thepublicsradio.org/possibly-pod...

“We found that the sharpest divisions in what animals were eating were not strictly based on species, season or space—but a combination of those things,” said Tyler Kartzinel, an associate professor in IBES and coauthor of a new study in @pnas.org. Learn more ⤵️

Read commentary from @brdemuth.bsky.social, associate prof in IBES and @brownhist.bsky.social, who has spent five years conducting research for her book on Yukon River history ⤵️

Amid pressure to retract his research, a Brown University professor says it’s important to ‘be brave’ - TPR: The Public's Radio An environmental studies professor at Brown University is at the center of a fight that he says underscores the politics of wind energy.  J. Timmons Roberts and the Climate and Development Lab at Brow...

I was interviewed by RI Public Radio-

"Certainly, the threats do have a chilling effect..I think scientists and social scientists are waking up to the fact that they can’t expect to just live in an ivory tower..

They really have to stand up for their work

thepublicsradio.org/education/am...

20/n

State reps to host special meeting on Revolution Wind project halt - What's Up Newp - Advertisement -Rhode Island state representatives Lauren Carson and Terri Cortvriend will host a special Zoom meeting Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 6:30 p.m. to address the federal government’s sudden decisi...

RI state reps Lauren Carson & Terri Cortvriend will host a special Zoom meeting to address the federal government’s sudden decision to halt construction of the Revolution Wind project.

Join Tues, Sept 2, at 6:30pm ET to hear from the event's featured speaker, IBES Prof @timmonsroberts.bsky.social.

Law Firm Pressures Brown University to Erase Research on Anti-Wind Groups

Student research out of the @climatedevlab.bsky.social has sparked legal backlash from anti-wind groups. With offshore wind construction already at risk, attacks from groups like these threaten the possibility of meeting local climate goals. See the full article below, and the newly released report.