Search Results for: research

Visiting Scholars and Researchers Postdocs

Research at ERG

Through teaching, mentorship and research projects, ERG supports a diverse suite of basic and applied projects.  The goal of this engagement is to understand, inform, and transform the knowledge and ... Continue Reading »

The Energy and Resources Group

ERG is a col­lab­o­ra­tive com­mu­nity of grad­u­ate stu­dents, core fac­ulty, over 150 affil­i­ated fac­ulty and researchers across the cam­pus, and over 500 alumni across the globe. We award MA, MS, and ... Continue Reading »

About ERG

Our Mission The mission of the Energy and Resources Group is a sustainable environment and a just society. ERG is a col­lab­o­ra­tive com­mu­nity of grad­u­ate stu­dents, core fac­ulty, nearly 200 ... Continue Reading »

Who We Are

A Brief History of ERG For thirty years, the Energy and Resources Group (ERG) at the University of California, Berkeley has provided its outstanding graduate students and exceptional faculty the ... Continue Reading »

Graduate Admissions

The Energy and Resources Group – graduate degrees that make a difference The Energy and Resources Group (ERG) trains interdisciplinary leaders and thinkers who are defining and solving the systemic, ... Continue Reading »

THE ENERGY AND RESOURCES GROUP

Research and education for a sustainable environment and a just society. ERG is a col­lab­o­ra­tive com­mu­nity of grad­u­ate stu­dents, core fac­ulty, 150 affil­i­ated fac­ulty and researchers across the cam­pus, and over ... Continue Reading »

Financing Your Education

COST OF ATTENDANCE Please see the UC Berkeley Registrar’ Fee Schedule for the current cost of attendance in UC Berkeley graduate academic programs. ERG is an academic program and does ... Continue Reading »

Courses

All Course Offerings Please note: This is a full list of ERG course offerings; not all courses are offered each term. For current course offerings, please refer to the online ... Continue Reading »

Give to ERG

Your donation to ERG provides critical funding and academic opportunities for our graduate students. ERG has a 50-year history of outstanding research, teaching, policy advice and scholar-activism. ERG has researched ... Continue Reading »

Core Faculty

The faculty of ERG currently consists of 10 core professors of Energy and Resources and nearly 200 affiliated faculty and researchers holding appointments in a wide range of departments across ... Continue Reading »

Students

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 »

Programs

ERG Program Directory The information below is a directory of ERG programs. Please read through and contact us at erggrad@berkeley.edu for graduate program questions and ergdeskb@berkeley.edu for all other questions.  ... Continue Reading »

Analysis & Control (EMAC) Energy Modeling

The Energy Modeling, Analysis and Control (EMAC) group addresses the engineering and techno-economic challenges to decarbonizing electric power systems. Our work ranges from applied to theoretical. Much of our work focuses on building new control and optimization frameworks to facilitate the operation of low carbon grids.

Harte Lab: Ecology & Global Change

Ecology and global change are the primary topics of research in the Harte Lab. Among the goals are: to characterize ecological feedbacks to climate change, to predict effects of global change on biodiversity, and to develop fundamental theory that predicts the structure of ecosystems across spatial scales.

Climate & Carbon Sciences Program

The research mission of the Climate & Carbon Sciences Program is to advance the understanding and prediction of multiscale climate dynamics, abrupt and extreme climate events, terrestrial feedbacks to climate change, and their impacts on energy and water resources.

Faculty by Primary Interest

Areas of Interest Climate Change ERG COREDavid AnthoffDavid Anthoff is an environmental economist who studies climate change and environmental policy. He co-develops the integrated assessment model FUND that is used ... Continue Reading »

Concurrent Degree Program (MPP/MA or MPP/MS)

Public Policy & Energy Resources Group Energy and Resources Group (ERG) and the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP) offer a concurrent degree program that integrates the strengths of public policy ... Continue Reading »

Master’s Degree Curriculum Requirements (MA or MS)

The purpose of the ERG Master’s program is to educate the next generation of interdisciplinary leaders. Specifically, students are taught the range of methods and subjects they should be able ... Continue Reading »

Internship Job Market

Interested in our candidates? Check out ERG Ph.D. candidates who will be completing their dissertations and are currently preparing for employment.

ERG Economics Lab

The Society, Environment and Economics Lab works on the economics of a wide range of environmental, energy and resource issues. Our work spans theoretical, empirical and numerical modeling approaches. We engage in rigorous academic research and actively participate in current policy debates.

Summer Instructors 2024

The Energy and Resources Group summer instructors understand the complex and interdisciplinary nature of sustainability. All have significant experience teaching and/or professional experience in the subject areas of their courses. ... 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 »

Critical Ruralities Lab

Youjin Chung convenes the Critical Ruralities Lab, housed within the Departments of Energy and Resources Group (ERG) and Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM) at UC Berkeley. Members of the ... Continue Reading »

Open Positions

Join the ERG Team The Energy and Resources Group is a col­lab­o­ra­tive com­mu­nity of grad­u­ate stu­dents, core fac­ulty, nearly 200 affil­i­ated fac­ulty and researchers across the cam­pus, and over 600 ... 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 »

Climate Futures Lab

The Climate Futures Lab is a hub of social science research on the impact and equity of climate change responses at the University of California, Berkeley. The lab is led ... Continue Reading »

ERG Annual Lecture 2024

The Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley has, from its inception a half century ago, educated many of today’s experts and policymakers about the truly interdisciplinary nature of global ... Continue Reading »

50 Years Of ERG

From Vision to Reality In 1969 a group of academics from different departments on the UC Berkeley campus started gathering on Wednesdays to discuss interdisciplinary problems and theorize new educational ... Continue Reading »

50 Years of ERG : History

From Vision to Reality In 1969 a group of academics from different departments on the UC Berkeley campus started gathering on Wednesdays to discuss interdisciplinary problems and theorize new educational ... Continue Reading »

ERG 50th Anniversary Oral History Project

Since accepting its first graduate students in 1975, the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley has inspired generations of physicists, economists, engineers, social scientists, and ecologists to reframe ecological ... Continue Reading »

Daniel Kammen and Berkeley Researchers finds that China is the only Nation on track to triple its Renewable Capacity by 2030

April 11, 2024

Amid continuing geopolitical tensions, climate change remains a key area of collaboration between the United States and China. Ahead of last November’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28, Presidents Biden ... Continue Reading »

Annelise Gill-Wiehl Challenges Cookstove Emission Research

February 1, 2024

Berkeley’s own Annelise Gill-Wiehl’s conducts research on the affect of efficient cookstoves in Tanzania. Gill-Wiehl, Daniel Kammen, and Kathrine Lau’s findings share that these cookstoves are “overestimated” in their carbon ... Continue Reading »

2023 Annual Lecture with Catherine Koshland: Lighting the Way with Interdisciplinary Research

April 13, 2023

The 2023 ERG Annual Lecture took place on Thursday, April 13, featuring Catherine Koshland speaking on the importance and value of interdisciplinary research. A recording of her lecture, entitled “Lighting ... Continue Reading »

Research from ERG’s Esther Shears in Nature Climate Change Compares Models of Climate Governance

January 24, 2023

ERG PhD student Esther Shears is an author of a recently published paper in Nature Climate Change, undertaking a comparative study of national climate governance. To read the full piece, ... Continue Reading »

Building Inclusive Research Practices: ERG’s Dan Kammen in Nature Energy Paper

October 28, 2022

ERG’s Dan Kammen is an author of a recent publication in Nature Energy about the potential for inclusive research practices to help facilitate a more equitable energy transition. Read the ... Continue Reading »

New Study by Coalition of ERG Researchers Reveals True Social Cost of Carbon

September 1, 2022

Researchers from Rausser College’s Energy and Resources Group (ERG) and Resources for the Future (RFF) have released a new estimate that the social cost of carbon (SCC), a key metric ... Continue Reading »

Q&A with ERG Researchers on Building a Climate Conscious Electrical Grid

August 16, 2022

ERG’s Liyang Wang and Andrew Jones were recently featured in a Q&A segment from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where they answered questions about how grid planners might build resilient and ... Continue Reading »

ERG Researchers on Furthering Energy Equity in Africa Using Data Methods

August 15, 2022

ERG researchers Daniel Kammen, Sam Miles, Annelise Gill-Wiehl, and Hilary Yu at the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Lab (RAEL) published a piece in Clean Technica about the Congo Power initiative, ... Continue Reading »

ERG Researchers Predict Clean Energy Will Require Extensive Electrification Upgrades

July 14, 2022

ERG professor Duncan Callaway and graduate students Anna Brockway and Salma Elmallah have published a Haas Energy Institute working paper identifying the necessity of upgrading California's electric distribution system in anticipation for a clean energy future.

Report ERG Researchers Data-Focused Partnerships Will Play Essential Role in Facilitating a Just Energy Transition

July 12, 2022

ERG PhD students Sam Miles and Annelise Gill-Wiehl and ERG’s Dan Kammen were recently published in GreenBiz with a piece about the importance of fostering data-focused research partnerships in order ... Continue Reading »

000 Californians May Lack Safe Drinking Water ERG Researchers Lead New Study: 400

January 26, 2022

ERG alumna Dr. Lara Cushing (MA ’10, PhD ’15) and ERG PhD student Nicholas Depsky contributed to a UC Berkeley, UCLA-led study recently published in the American Journal of Public ... Continue Reading »

Report ERG Researchers at LBNL Hybrid Power Plants See Optimal Financial Return With 2-Hour Batteries

November 22, 2021

ERG PhD student Will Gorman (MS ’19) and Cristina Crespo Montanes (MS) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) were featured in a recent article in Utility Dive, sharing how ... Continue Reading »

New Research from Alumnus Errickson Connects Animal-based Foods with High Climate Costs

May 4, 2021

ERG alumnus Frank Errickson recently published research on Nature, "Animal-based foods have high social and climate costs", quantifying the climate costs of animal-based agricultural greenhouse gas emissions at a regional level.

Earthweek Features ERG Professor Margaret Torn’s Lead Research on Net-Zero Emissions

March 23, 2021

ERG adjunct professor Margaret Torn was recently featured in Earthweek for her leading research in how the U.S can reach zero net emissions of carbon dioxide in 2050 by shifting energy infrastructure to operate mainly on renewable energy. “It means that by 2050 we need to build many gigawatts of wind and solar power plants, new transmission lines, a fleet of electric cars and light trucks, millions of heat pumps to replace conventional furnaces and water heaters, and more energy-efficient buildings,” Torn states.

Adaptation for Climate Change Impacts Researched by ERG Student Szinai and Professor Jones

February 16, 2021

ERG PhD student Julia Szinai and assistant adjunct professor Andrew Jones were recently featured in AGU news for their research on evaluating cross-sectoral impacts of climate change and adaptations on the energy-water nexus.  “How we adapt to climate change in the water sector can exacerbate or offset impacts on the grid,” Szinai states. “And so those interactions shouldn’t be ignored in planning.”

ERG Adjunct Professor Margaret Torn Conducts Vital Research on Carbon Dioxide Removal

January 26, 2021

ERG adjunct professor Margaret Torn was featured in EurekAlert for her contributed work on a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) primer. The article cites the research as a valuable resource on CDR technologies and policies, and how such strategies can help create a serious plan to address climate change. "Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are already 50% over historic natural levels - 270 ppm (parts per million) in pre-industrial times vs 414 ppm today," Torn stated. "To slow climate change and avoid its worst impacts, climate scientists tell us that we need to restore atmospheric CO2 concentrations to about 350 ppm or less. To do that, we need CDR technologies and policies to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere."

Alumni ERG Students

January 21, 2021

Current ERG PhD student Julia Szinai, alumnus Ranjit Deshmukh, ERG professor Dan Kammen, and assistant adjunct professor Andrew Jones were recently featured by UCSB for their leading research in "Power, Water and Climate". Working with researchers from UC Santa Barbara and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, they developed "a framework evaluating the impacts of climate change on California’s water and energy systems".

ERG PhD Student Adam Hanbury-Brown Awarded NASA Research Grant

July 3, 2020

ERG PhD Student Adam Hanbury-Brown was recently awarded funding through NASA's Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) program, which is designed to support graduate student-designed and performed research projects that advance NASA's science, technology, and exploration goals.

ERG PhD Student Ian Bolliger Researches How COVID-19 Measures Prevented Over 500 Million Infections

June 16, 2020

ERG PhD student Ian Bolliger was recently titled part of a research team that published a study "The effect of large-scale anti-contagion policies on the COVID-19 pandemic". Their research found that the emergency COVID-19 measures prevented more than 500 million infections around the globe.

ERG Professor Kueppers’ Research on Climate-Threatened Forests Published in Science

June 5, 2020

ERG Professor Lara Kueppers recently co-authored a research paper titled "Pervasive shifts in forest dynamics in a changing world". The research focuses on how global warming negatively impacts forests around the world, "resulting in shorter and younger trees with broad impacts on global ecosystems." Furthermore, the paper was picked up on various media sources, including Forbes, Science, Berkeley Lab, and others. 

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Awards ERG Students Rempel and Alford-Jones

April 15, 2020

ERG students Jenny Rempel and Kelsey Alford-Jones have recently been named NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program award winners for 2020. NSF awards and recognizes "outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines" who are "pursuing research-based Master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions".

ERG Alum Evan Mills Cited for Xbox Emissions Research

February 11, 2020

ERG Alumnus Evan Mills' research on the carbon emissions of gaming systems was recently cited on Grist. The article, titled "How the Xbox stands between Microsoft and its climate goals", uses Mills' research to display how gaming consoles like the Xbox have a significant impact on annual emissions.

Dan Kammen and Researchers Urge More Aggressive Action Against Climate Change

December 12, 2019

In a new study done by ERG's Dan Kammen and a team of researchers, analysis shows that global warming crisis is worse than previously thought. However, their research also shows how it is completely possible for countries to achieve an increased and sustainable rate of decarbonisation through more aggressive policies against climate change.

ERG Research Shows Reliability of Independent Solar Power in Sub-Saharan Africa

October 18, 2018

Nature Energy recently published research by ERG PhD Student Jonathan Lee and Professor Duncan Callaway quantifying the cost of reliability for decentralized solar and battery systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their ... Continue Reading »

ERG PhD Student Grace Wu Receives the 2018 Smith Conservation Research Fellowship

January 24, 2018

The David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship is a renowned postdoctoral program designed to support early-career scientists tackling the world’s most pressing conservation challenges. Throughout their research, the fellows partner ... Continue Reading »

Carbon Footprints CNR’s Breakthroughs Magazine Highlights ERG Students and Faculty for Research on Energy Storage

December 2, 2017

The College of Natural Resources has issued its Fall 2017 Breakthroughs magazine, featuring research from many ERG students and faculty. From Chris Jones and Dan Kammen’s comprehensive carbon footprint calculator ... Continue Reading »

Kammen Comments on What’s at Stake as Trump Takes Aim at Clean Energy Research

February 1, 2017

ERG professor Dan Kammen commented in this MIT Technology Review article on reports that the Trump administration intends to shut down or slash resources for select Department of Energy programs.

ERG Postdoctoral Researcher Cohen – Water Treatment Methods in Rural China

February 1, 2017

ERG postdoctoral researcher Alasdair Cohen (Ph.D. '16) is featured in Thriving Earth Exchange on his collaboration with government health researchers to better understand water treatment methods in rural China.

New Partnership with Kammen’s RAEL Lab and University of Maryland’s Research for Climate Action

November 28, 2016

Last week, Daniel Kammen announced that RAEL is supporting and participating in the launch of the Research for Climate Action global consortium anchored at the University of Maryland.

ERG’s Energy Research Featured in Multiple News Outlets

May 25, 2016

“Research at the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory [ERG Professor Daniel Kammen’s lab] at the University of California Berkeley highlights that while cities currently contribute to global climate change by ... Continue Reading »

ERG Grad Student in Journal of Geophysical Research

April 26, 2016

ERG graduate student Zeke Hausfather co-authored a research article in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

Energy and Resource Group research finds that well-placed PV is yielding big savings on PG&E’s distribution grid

June 27, 2015

ERG Professor Duncan Callaway and and ERG student Michael Cohen's (MS '12) release report on Economic Effects of Distributed PV Generation on California's Distribution System.

ERG alum Zeke Hausfather makes the New York Times!

November 14, 2024

Photo by John Chiara ERG alum Dr. Zeke Hausfather makes the New York Times! Human activities are the main drivers of long-term warming, sea level rise, and extreme weather. However, ... Continue Reading »

Aline Abayo named participant in the Future Nobel Laureates Scholarship Program

November 7, 2024

Aline Abayo. Photo by Kwabena Owusu Sarfo. Aline Abayo, a graduate student in the Energy and Resource Group (ERG), has been selected as one of eleven participants in the prestigious ... Continue Reading »

Advanced conductors provide path for grid expansion

October 1, 2024

A new study led by Duncan Callaway, professor and chair of the Energy and Resources Group (ERG), and Amol Phadke, an affiliate and senior scientist at the Goldman School of Public Policy, shows ... Continue Reading »

Students return from KTH Royal Institute of Technology exchange

August 22, 2024

The eight-week exchange program offered participants the opportunity to study energy research abroad.

Africa’s path to green growth

August 20, 2024

New analysis by ERG researchers explores whether Africa’s economic growth could impact efforts to reduce global warming.

Partnership with KTH Royal Institute of Technology creates opportunities for students

June 19, 2024

A dozen students from Sweden and California swapped places last week for summer research internships focused on digital transformation, kicking off a new exchange program between UC Berkeley and KTH ... Continue Reading »

predominantly Latinx communities Study shows PFAS threat to drinking water in rural

June 13, 2024

Public water wells in communities of color might be disproportionately polluted by pesticides contaminated with harmful per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to a new study led by a team ... Continue Reading »

Rachel Schurman In Memoriam

April 4, 2024

(June 9, 1958 – March 17, 2024) Rachel Schurman was the first woman to serve on the core faculty of the Energy and Resources Group. She came to Berkeley as ... Continue Reading »

Zeke Hausfather (PhD ’19) on climate change reality and hope

October 16, 2023

ERG Alum Zeke Hausfather, Climate Research Lead at Stripe and Research Scientist at Berkeley Earth, published an opinion piece in the New York Times, outlining the dire realities of the ... Continue Reading »

A biotechnology that disrupts mosquito-borne disease is resistant to climate change

August 4, 2023

ERG PhD student Váleri Vásquez, with ERG Professor Lara Kueppers, recently published a paper in Nature Climate Change with some good news for our ability to control infectious diseases passed ... Continue Reading »

Energy Access in Informal Settlements: ERG’s Jess Kersey and Dan Kammen Convene a Conference for the Spotlight Kampala Collaboration

May 23, 2023

Colleagues from Uganda, Washington, Arizona and West Virginia travel to Berkeley to progress joint work with ERG’s Jess Kersey and Dan Kammen on the Spotlight Kampala initiative.

Advocating for Women on World Water Day

March 22, 2023

New commentary published in the Lancet on World Water Day (March 22) calls on researchers, policy makers, and professionals to strengthen their commitment to addressing gender inequities in global water delivery systems. Co-authored ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Crespo Montañés and Kammen on Centering Equity In the Clean Energy Transition

March 13, 2023

A commentary with authorship by ERG PhD student Cristina Crespo Montañés and ERG professor Dan Kammen has recently been published in Science Direct on how we can center principles of ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Dan Kammen on How Recent Fusion Breakthroughs Could Pave the Way for Clean Energy

December 14, 2022

A recent breakthrough in fusion energy technology is a landmark achievement in the development of clean energy.

Study Led by ERG’s Jenny Rempel Finds High Levels of Arsenic in Prison Drinking Water

September 22, 2022

A new study led by ERG’s Jenny Rempel and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia Tech is among the first to examine how arsenic contamination affects the drinking ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Esther Shears Co-Author of New Study Examining Government Investment in Energy Innovation

September 12, 2022

ERG PhD candidate Esther Shears is a co-author of a paper recently published in Nature Energy, which offers insight into the trajectory of energy research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) that ... Continue Reading »

ERG Alum Jamil Farbes Discusses Inflation Reduction Act in NPR Interview

August 23, 2022

ERG alumnus Jamil Farbes (MS ’10), now principal at Evolved Energy Research, was recently featured in an NPR interview explaining climate capture technology. View the full transcript or listen to ... Continue Reading »

ERG Professor Emeritus John Holdren

February 11, 2022

ERG professor emeritus and founding faculty member John Holdren has been awarded the Public Welfare Medal by the National Academy of Sciences. This award recognizes his many years of scientific ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Bodie Cabiyo on How Innovative Use of Low-Value Wood Can Advance Carbon-Beneficial Forest Management

December 8, 2021

A new research paper exploring the potential for the innovative use of low-value wood was recently published in PNAS by Bodie Cabiyo, a PhD candidate at ERG, with corresponding author Daniel Sanchez (PhD '15). Their research supports that the innovative use of low-value wood has the ability to reduce wildfire risk, and reduce California's net emissions. (Photo by Olena Sergienko)

Report ERG Alumni at Pacific Institute California Drought is Increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

September 30, 2021

ERG alumni Peter Gleick (PhD ’86) and Julia Szinai (PhD ’21) of the Pacific Institute research group discussed in a recent article on The Hill how the findings of their ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Brockway and Callaway Reveal Link Between California Grid Limits and Energy Poverty

September 23, 2021

A new research paper published in Nature Energy authored by Anna Brockway, an ERG PhD student and ERG professor Duncan Callaway highlights how existing social inequities are exacerbated by California's grid limits. (Photo by Jeremy Bezanger)

New Climate Equity and Environmental Justice Cluster Brings Faculty Mills-Novoa to ERG

September 15, 2021

Meg Mills-Novoa has joined the Energy and Resources Group as part of a group of new faculty members recruited through Rausser College's Climate Equity and Environmental Justice cluster initiative to further climate justice research.

Empowering 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.

Transforming Africa’s Energy Sector

August 10, 2021

Dan Kammen and co-authors argue in the journal Science that a major transformation is needed to meet the needs of Africa's growing population.

ERG Alumna Laura Moreno Studies the Staggering Reality of Food Waste

May 2, 2021

ERG alumna Laura Moreno was recently featured on the California Magazine for her research on understanding food waste in the United States.

Annelise Gill-Wiehl Awarded NSF Fellowships ERGies Jess Kersey

April 12, 2021

Congratulations to ERG Master's student Jess Kersey and PhD student Annelise Gill-Wiehl for receiving the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP).

Berkeley Lab and ERG’s Kammen Agree Electrifying Trucking Proves More Cost-Efficient

April 8, 2021

Electrified vehicles are just simply much cheaper to own and operate

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 David Anthoff Provides a “Social Cost of Carbon” Roadmap

March 23, 2021

ERG assistant professor David Anthoff in a team of researchers recently published new analysis in the journal Nature, listing a series of measures the Biden administration should consider in recalculating the social cost of carbon (SCC). “Economic analysis is at the heart of the regulatory process in the U.S. and will therefore play a major role in shaping and informing the ambitious climate goals from the new administration,” Anthoff stated. “Our recommendations offer a roadmap for how this can be done in a way that is both scientifically rigorous and transparent.”

Farbes ERG Alums Williams

February 3, 2021

A new article, "Carbon-neutral pathways for the United States," published in the open-access journal AGU Advances by ERG alums Jim Williams, Jamil Farbes, ERG alum and adjunct professor Margaret Torn, and others found that "reaching zero net emissions of carbon dioxide from energy and industry by 2050 can be accomplished.

ERG Alum Kripa Jagannathan Awarded EESA Early Career Development Grant

February 2, 2021

Congratulations to ERG alumna Kripa Jagannathan for receiving the Early Career Development Grant from Earth & Environmental Sciences (EEPS)! Kripa specializes in the field of climate change adaptation and climate-resilient planning. EEPS describes her most recent research being focused on "improving the ‘usability’ of climate science, and enabling science-based adaptation decision-making for water resources management and agricultural planning."

Microsoft Awards ERG PhD Student Valeri Vasquez with PhD Fellowship

January 29, 2021

Congratulations to ERG PhD student Valeri Vasquez upon becoming a 2021 Microsoft Research PhD Fellow! This two-year fellowship is for PhD students at North American universities pursuing research aligned to the research areas carried out by Microsoft Research. Vasquez's research entails studying the "environmental drivers, economic impacts of infectious disease... and the use of genetic-based interventions, including CRISPR-Cas9 systems, to control mosquito-borne illness."

Rausser College’s Fall Breakthroughs Magazine Features ERG Professor Isha Ray and PhD Student Valeri Vasquez

December 29, 2020

In the latest fall 2020 issue of Breakthroughs magazine, ERG professor Isha Ray was interviewed on her work in social equity and inclusive activism, and ERG PhD student Valeri Vasquez was featured on her project of using computational models to research how genetic technologies might work as public health interventions. "Equity and inclusion have always motivated me, in both research and teaching, and I’ve served as an equity adviser in my department for many years," Ray states in her interview. "My field research has always focused on social justice, particularly in communities that are neglected and marginalized and with people struggling to be included as full citizens. You would think that, in this century, clean, affordable drinking water wouldn’t be such a huge ask, but apparently it is."

ERG Professor John Harte Oversees “Science Journal for Kids” Adapting UC Berkeley Study

November 18, 2020

As a Science Journal for Kids advisory board member, ERG professor John Harte recently oversaw UC Berkeley researchers and Science Journal for Kids adapting a paper that found associations between redlining and emergency department visits for asthma. The study was adjusted to be more kid-friendly, and was featured in relevance to today's youth and the Black Lives Matter movement. "The purpose of the organization is to bring easily readable and understandable articles to kids and to 'improve the level of scientific understanding in society'," Harte stated.

Alum Barbara Haya on MIT Technology Review: the Reality of Amazon’s “net zero” emissions

November 12, 2020

In a recent MIT Technology Review article, alumna Barbara Haya raises concerns of Amazon's carbon offset programs, providing research depicting that such programs can significantly overstate carbon reductions. She states that this could potentially result in Amazon exaggerating progress towards its goal of "net zero" emissions. "Under the rules for the reduced harvesting practice, landowners would generally only need to account for a 10% leakage rate in their calculations. This suggests that even if the family forest projects do draw down significant additional carbon, much of the benefit could be wiped out by larger harvests elsewhere, limiting the real-world climate benefits," Haya states.

ERG Alum Sasha Harris-Lovett Closely Monitors Bay Area Sewage for COVID-19

November 2, 2020

COVID Wastewater Epidemiology for the Bay Area Project (COVID-WEB) is a pop-up lab dedicated to monitoring Bay Area sewage for COVID-19, with ERG alumna Sasha Harris-Lovett as one of the several UC Berkeley scientists and researchers heavily involved with the project. The lab analyzes 30 samples each week, contributing valuable data to health officials keeping track of outbreaks in neighborhoods lacking in COVID tests and health care. "Having a regional wastewater monitoring system is like having a fire lookout on a mountaintop,” says Harris-Lovett in the Berkeley News. “We want to be able to see smoke and marshall resources to put out the fire before it becomes an inferno."

Kammen’s Monitoring of Global CO2 Emissions Reveals Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic

October 27, 2020

ERG professor Dan Kammen recently co-authored and published a research article, "Near-real-time monitoring of global CO2 emissions reveals the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic", on Nature. The article was featured on various news sources, including AZO Cleantech, ScienceDaily, and StudyFinds. "The greatest reduction of emissions was observed in the ground transportation sector. Largely because of working from home restrictions, transport CO2 emissions decreased by 40% worldwide. In contrast, the power and industry sectors contributed less to the decline, with −22% and −17%, respectively, as did the aviation and shipping sectors," Kammen states in his research.

Carbon Pricing ERG’s Dan Kammen Interviewed in MCJ Podcast On Nuclear Energy

October 14, 2020

ERG professor Dan Kammen was featured in the latest episode of the My Climate Journey (MCJ) Podcast. Kammen discussed numerous topics, including the feasibility of carbon pricing in the US, the implications of switching a fossil fuel economy to a renewable economy, and much more. "There's no question that 100% renewables is possible. I've done a lot of research, my lab works on scenarios to get the U.S., China, Mexico, Kenya, Bangladesh, Morocco to 100% renewables. And in many cases where the technology mix is improving enough, the climate favors that you can do that. It's also a case that we are not today ready to think about a solar and wind only world, but solar and wind plus storage, plus geothermal, plus potentially nuclear," Kammen states.

ERG Alumnus Niklas Lollo on Improving Sustainability in the Apparel Industry

October 12, 2020

ERG Alumnus Niklas Lollo recently published his research paper, "Measurement without Clear Incentives to Improve: The Impacts of the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) on Apparel Factory Practices and Performance" on SocArXiv Papers. He discusses how the Facility Environment Module (FEM), an annual assessment of an apparel facility’s environmental management capabilities, could be improved to better the environmental performance of the apparel industry.

ERG PhD Student Esther Shears on Improving Data Access and Equality

September 10, 2020

ERG PhD student Esther Shears recently published her work in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Her publication, titled "Improving data access democratizes and diversifies science", focuses on how critical data access is for empirical research and the diversity of scientific research. Shears shares a two-sentence summary from the abstract of what she found from her analysis, stating that "Scientists who start using Landsat data after access is improved tend to focus on previously understudied regions close to their home location and introduce novel research topics. These findings suggest that policies that improve access to valuable scientific data may promote scientific progress, reduce inequality among scientists, and increase the diversity of scientific research."

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.

ERG PhD Student Seigi Karasaki Discovers a New Novel Fungal Species From Bats

July 10, 2020

ERG PhD student Seigi Karaski co-authored a recently published research paper on the discovery of novel fungal species and pathogens on bat carcasses. The research focuses on the new fungal disease, explaining how it could potentially affect human and animal health. The research focuses on the scientific testing and analysis of the new fungus.

ERG Almnus Daniel Sanchez Interviewed in “Breakthroughs” on Climate Change Solutions

May 29, 2020

ERG Alumnus Daniel Sanchez was recently featured in Breakthroughs, the magazine of the Rausser College of Natural Resources, for his work as a Cooperative Extension specialist. Along with other featured specialists, the article focuses on their work on "tackling climate change's impacts on Californians."

ERG Professor Isha Ray Emphasizes Hand-washing in the Midst of Covid-19

April 21, 2020

In the current pandemic of Covid-19, ERG professor Isha Ray points out how the public health directive to "wash your hands" is a challenge for people lacking access to clean water. In her article on Matrix, she describes the need to increase water and sanitation investments to prevent further spread of disease and to simply increase the standard of living for all families.

ERG Student Anushah Hossain Awarded Peter Lyman and Subir Chowdhury Fellowships

April 7, 2020

Anushah Hossain, a Ph.D. student in the Energy & Resource Group, has recently been awarded two different fellowships. Hossain was awarded the Peter Lyman Graduate Fellowship for "her dissertation on a multi-lingual internet", as well as the Subir Chowdhury Fellowship on Quality of Life in Bangladesh to "support her research on open access software communities in South Asia".

ERG PhD Student Szinai and Alumnus Gopal Link Grid Costs to Electric Vehicle Charge Management

March 9, 2020

ERG PhD student Julia Szinai, ERG Alumnus Anand Gopal, and two other co-authors from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab have recently published a collaborative research paper on ScienceDirect.

ERG Professor Ray with ERG Alumni Jagannathan and Jones on Metrics Used for Climate Science

March 2, 2020

ERG professor Isha Ray with ERG Alumni Kripa Jagannathan and Andrew Jones recently published a new collaborative research paper titled "The making of a metric: Co-producing decision-relevant climate science".

ERG PhD Veronica Jacome Awarded UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship

February 25, 2020

ERG PhD Student Veronica Jacome has recently been selected as a University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellow.

Forbes cites ERG PHD Student Stephen Jarvis on Germany’s Nuclear Phase-Out

January 28, 2020

ERG MS/PHD student Stephen Jarvis, in collaboration with economists Olivier Deschenes and Akshaya Jha, had their research paper cited in the Forbes article titled "As The Costs Of Germany’s Nuclear Phase Out Mount, Little Appetite For A Rethink".

ERG’s Lara and Kammen on Potential for Biomass Feedstock from Drought

January 23, 2020

ERG student José Daniel Lara and ERG professor Daniel Kammen, in collaboration with forest researchers in UC Berkeley's department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, recently published "Characterization of the woody biomass feedstock potential resulting from California’s drought" in Nature, Scientific Reports.

Valeri Vasquez Returns with the All-Women Expedition from Antarctic Voyage

December 19, 2019

Valeri Vasquez, an ERG graduate student, has recently returned with the largest-ever delegation of 100 women from a month long expedition in Antarctica. Their journey to the frozen continent was part of an initiative to bring more women into STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math and medical fields), fighting climate change and women empowerment.

Distinguished Scientist and ERG Emeritus Remembering Jack Hollander

December 3, 2019

ERG emeritus professor Jack M. Hollander passed away on November 10, 2019 at age 92.

David Anthoff Leads Climate Economics Project Team for Matrix

September 16, 2019

ERG Assistant Professor David Anthoff was selected to lead a research team on climate economics for Matrix, a UC Berkeley Institute for social science research.

Yoshika Crider’s Investigation on Chlorination Technology in Sandec News

September 10, 2019

ERG grad student Yoshika Crider's work on improving water systems in Rural Nepal through chlorination technology is highlighted in SANDEC's annual publication.

ERG Alumnus Patrick Gonzalez Speaks to Congress on Climate Change

June 27, 2019

ERG alum, Dr. Patrick Gonzalez presents scientific findings to Representative Mike Quigley and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Members in the U.S. Capitol

PhD Candidate Laura Moreno Comments on Food Waste in National Geographic

April 25, 2019

PhD candidate Laura Moreno, ERG’s resident food waste expert, is featured in an article published by National Geographic this week. Moreno’s research focuses on why household waste is generated, how ... Continue Reading »

ERG PhD Student Nancy Freitas Wins Berkeley Grad Slam Competition

April 5, 2019

Nancy Frietas, an ERG PhD student, is the 2019 Berkeley Grad Slam winner for her 3-minute presentation “Microbes in the Arctic.”

ERG Alum Patrick Gonzalez Testifies Before Congress as Expert Witness

February 21, 2019

During a recent House Natural Resources Committee event titled “Climate Change and Public Lands: Examining Impacts and Considering Adaptation Opportunities,” ERG alumnus Patrick Gonzalez (PhD ’97) provided testimony as an ... Continue Reading »

Study finds racial inequality in the deployment of rooftop solar

January 10, 2019

A new study by researchers at UC Berkeley and Tufts University shows fewer rooftop solar photovoltaics installations exist in African-American and Hispanic-dominant neighborhoods than in white-dominant neighborhoods, even when controlling ... Continue Reading »

ERG Student Chris Hyun Highlighted as InFEWS Fellow

December 26, 2018

InFEWS fellowships are granted to students whose PhD research aims to provide lasting environmental solutions and alleviate poverty in the world’s poorest regions. The Blum Center for Developing Economies recently ... Continue Reading »

ERG Graduate Student Advisor Kay Burns Receives Berkeley’s Highest Advising Honor

December 18, 2018

ERG graduate student advisor Kay Burns (pictured with ERG/CNR Undergraduate Advisor Ryann Madden and ERG Professor Emeritus Dick Norgaard) has been named a 2018 recipient of the the Mary Slakey ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Isa Ferrall and Haas Teammates Win “Energy in Emerging Markets” Case Competition

December 10, 2018

The case competition, hosted Nov. 6 by the MBA Energy Club at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, required a team of three to five graduate students to compare the electrical ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Isa Ferrall and Haas Teammates Win “Energy in Emerging Markets” Case Competition

December 10, 2018

The case competition, hosted Nov. 6 by the MBA Energy Club at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, required a team of three to five graduate students to compare the electrical ... Continue Reading »

Campus and Alumni Mourn the Passing of ERG Professor Gene Rochlin

November 28, 2018

It is with a very heavy heart that I have to pass on the news that University of California Berkeley Energy and Resources Group (ERG) core faculty emeritus Gene Rochlin passed away this weekend. 

Energy by Whom? With ERG Alumna Nikky Avila

November 26, 2018

Nikky Avila (PhD ’18) was recently featured on the podcast “Somebody Call a Doctor.” Avila discusses how distributed energy technologies are disrupting conventional electricity planning paradigms and enabling social innovation. She ... Continue Reading »

ERG PhD Student Kripa Jagannathan Spotlighted for California Outreach

November 1, 2018

As a graduate student in the UC Cooperative Extension Program, Kripa Jagannathan has the opportunity to supplement her research at ERG with outreach to California farmers and water utilities officials. ... Continue Reading »

Master’s Student Gauthami Penakalapati Connects Sanitation with Mental and Social Well-Being

October 24, 2018

In her recent review on sanitation and well-being outcomes, Gauthami Penakalapati explores a more holistic definition of “health,” which includes physical, mental and social well-being. She discusses how inadequate sanitation, ... Continue Reading »

ERG Student Zeke Hausfather Maps Global Warming

October 4, 2018

“Climate change is often communicated by looking at the global average temperature. But a global average might not mean much to the average person. How the climate is likely to ... Continue Reading »

Mileva ERG Alumni Deshmukh

September 12, 2018

ERG alumni Ranjit Deshmukh, Ana Mileva, and Grace Wu recently published their research on alternatives to the hydroelectric power Inga III Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The ... Continue Reading »

Cost Efficiency

April 11, 2018

“What would it look like if all Yellow Cabs in Manhattan were replaced with self-driving electric taxis? How much battery range would they need, and where would you put charging ... Continue Reading »

Jesse Ribot Awarded 2018 Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship

April 10, 2018

Congratulations to ERG alum Jesse Ribot, who received the 2018 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship in the field of  Geography and Environmental Studies. The award aims to further the development ... Continue Reading »

Congratulations NSF and NSERC Fellowship Recipients!

April 3, 2018

This week, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the recipients of their Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). The program recruits high-potential, early-career scientists and engineers and supports their graduate research training ... Continue Reading »

Isha Ray Recognized as a Trailblazer for Her Impact on Developing Economies

March 22, 2018

“Gamechangers. Engineers. Innovators. Researchers. Entrepreneurs. These are just a few of the words that describe the outstanding women of the Blum Center ecosystem. In honor of National Women’s History month, ... Continue Reading »

How Does Building a New Suburb Affect the Atmosphere?

March 15, 2018

A team of scientists at the University of Utah as well as several other universities decided to take a closer look at the effects of expanding suburban communities near Salt ... Continue Reading »

Misplaced Praise – How Kosovo Took a Step in the Wrong Direction

March 13, 2018

The U.S. government recently congratulated the government of Kosovo for signing a contract with American multi-national corporation Contour Global to build a new 500 MW coal-fired power plant. Kosovo highlights ... Continue Reading »

Transportation Emissions in Mexico City – How Big Data is Driving Change

March 8, 2018

Mexico City is one of the most congested cities in the world, and it’s taking a toll on the health of its citizens and the environment. Sergio Castellanos, a postdoctoral ... Continue Reading »

What Happens When You Track Climate Change for Over 25 Years in the Rockies?

February 22, 2018

ERG ecosystems professor John Harte and his team at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory know the answer. They have been tracking wildflower populations and soil moisture in a meadow above Crested ... Continue Reading »

Bay Nature Institute Selects Lisa Micheli for Environmental Education Local Hero Award

February 7, 2018

Each year, the Bay Nature Institute names three “Local Heroes,” for Conservation Action, Youth Engagement, and Environmental Education. These members of the community have done outstanding work on behalf of ... Continue Reading »

Zeke Hausfather Cited by the Washington Post on 2017’s Concerning Temperatures

January 25, 2018

Recently, scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that 2017 was among the warmest years in history. While the two agencies approach global temperature measurements differently, both ... Continue Reading »

Climate Change Slowing Down Wind Turbines? Kammen Weighs In

December 12, 2017

With global temperatures increasing, researchers analyze the effects of temperature differences on wind patterns. Multiple studies confirm the possibility of wind resources declining across the Northern Hemisphere, reducing the energy ... Continue Reading »

Dan Kammen Featured in Fall 2017 Breakthroughs Magazine

November 30, 2017

In the Fall 2017 issue of the College of Natural Resources’ Breakthroughs magazine, Dan Kammen is spotlighted for the innovative ways in which he has merged science with environmental policy. ... Continue Reading »

Wind and Solar Energy Potential in The Democratic Republic of Congo – New ERG Study

October 2, 2017

Image: Renewable Riches: How Wind and Solar Could Power DRC and South Africa (2017) Ana Mileva, Ranjit Deshmukh, and Grace Wu discuss The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) position to harness ... Continue Reading »

ERG Student Jose Daniel Lara Joins UC’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative as a 2017 Fellow

September 19, 2017

Jose Daniel Lara was recently selected to represent UC Berkeley as a fellow for the University of California’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative (CNI). Jose will foster communication about UC-wide goals to ... Continue Reading »

Dan Kammen Discusses Climate Change Initiative Being Developed by California Universities

August 20, 2017

In a recent Nature article, ERG Professor Dan Kammen comments on the potential establishment of a California-based climate change research institute. The proposal is backed by all University of California ... Continue Reading »

Paper Authored by PhD Candidate Noah Kittner and Professor Dan Kammen Published in Nature Energy

August 16, 2017

Noah Kittner and Dan Kammen's new paper, "Energy stor­age deploy­ment and inno­va­tion for the clean energy tran­si­tion," was published in Nature Energy on July 31, 2017

ERG Faculty Margaret Torn Honored in the American Geophysical Union’s 2017 Class of Fellows

July 31, 2017

We are pleased to announce that ERG faculty member Margaret Torn has been selected in the 2017 class of American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fellows. From the official announcement: “AGU Fellows ... Continue Reading »

New ERG Chair Daniel M. Kammen

July 25, 2017

We are pleased to announce the appointment of the new Energy and Resources Group Chair, Professor Daniel M. Kammen. His appointment began July 1, 2017. Daniel Kam­men is a Pro­fes­sor of Energy with ... Continue Reading »

Environmental Science Journal for Kids Gets Impact Assessment from ERG’s Siegner and Dimitrova

July 12, 2017

A foundational assumption is that if young readers are exposed to original scientific research presented in accessible manner, they will develop a better understanding of the scientific method and process.

ERG Faculty Lara Kueppers Finds Critical Sierra Meadows Being Overtaken by Forest

July 7, 2017

"meadows are being increasingly overrun by forest as changing conditions allow the offspring of nearby trees to take hold in meadow environments"

New Study by ERG Postdoc James Rising Finds Northern States Might Profit as the Planet Warms

July 6, 2017

If you live in the South, climate change could kill your economy.

ERG graduate student Hausfather in LA Times

May 10, 2017

ERG doctoral student Zeke Hausfather comments in this LA Times article on a newly published analysis that reconciles different climate change data sets and confirms dominant human influence in long-term warming.

Kammen Discusses March for Science

April 24, 2017

ERG Professor Daniel Kammen was interviewed about his hopes and expectations for the March for Science that took place this past Saturday.

ERG Ph.D. Candidate Grace Wu – New Tool Helps African Countries Find the Best Sites for Renewable Energy Projects

April 14, 2017

ERG Ph.D. candidate Grace Wu is featured in this IEEE Spectrum article on a tool called Multicriteria Analysis for Planning Renewable Energy (MapRE)

ERG PhD’s Deshmukh and Wu – The Economic Case for Wind and Solar Energy in Africa

April 3, 2017

ERG PhD students Ranjit Deshmukh and Grace Wu discuss their research on cost-efficient renewable energy solutions to meet Africa's energy demands with Berkeley Lab.

Friend of ERG and Pioneer of Energy Efficiency Art Rosenfeld

February 2, 2017

Arthur Hinton Rosenfeld, a close friend to many in the ERG community, passed away Friday, January 27, 2017. He was 90 years old. “Art Rosenfeld helped make California the world ... Continue Reading »

No Pause in Global Warming Says ERG Grad Student Hausfather NOAA Was Right

January 11, 2017

A controversial paper published two years ago that concluded there was no detectable slowdown in ocean warming over the previous 15 years — widely known as the “global warming hiatus” — has now been confirmed using independent data in research led by researchers from UC Berkeley and Berkeley Earth.

Introducing New ERG Faculty Lara Kueppers

January 11, 2017

The Energy and Resources Group is delighted to announce the arrival of new core faculty member Lara Kueppers.

Professor Kammen: What Scientists Should Focus on Under Trump

November 18, 2016

Nine experts, including ERG Professor Daniel Kammen, reflect on where researchers should direct their efforts during the next US administration.

ERG Graduate Students Deshmukh and Wu: Can Wind and Solar Fuel Africa’s Future?

November 4, 2016

ERG Graduate Students Ranjit Deshmukh and Grace Wu's research on renewable energy in Africa was highlighted in a news article in Nature.

ERG Professor Anthoff: Climate Change at the International Level

October 26, 2016

ERG Professor David Anthoff discusses climate change at the international level for Berkeley's C&R Breakthroughs magazine.

ERG Professors Daniel Kammen and Isha Ray Involved in Development Engineering Program

October 20, 2016

ERG professor Dan Kammen and associate professor Isha Ray are highlighted in a UC Berkeley News article on a new NSF grant towards a STEM Training for Actionable Research and Global Impact program with a focus on Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems.

ERG Professor Kammen: We’re Placing Far too much Hope in Pulling Carbon Dioxide Out of the Air

October 20, 2016

ERG professor Dan Kammen commented for the Washington Post on the uncertainty of negative emissions as a viable fix for the planet's warming.

ERG Student Avila Receives Rosenfeld Fellowship

September 12, 2016

Congratulations to ERG postdoctoral fellow Nikky Avila, who was recently awarded the 2016 Rosenfeld Fellowship.

RAEL and GRID Alternatives Partner for Off-Grid Solar

August 1, 2016

Solar Industry Magazine has announced a partnership between the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL) and nonprofit solar installer GRID Alternatives. RAEL is a unique new research, development, project implementation, and community ... Continue Reading »

ERG Alumni: Leaders at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

June 30, 2016

Two articles on the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory website featured the current work of ERG alumni Ryan Wiser (M.S. '96, Ph.D. '02) and Andrew Jones (M.S. '07, Ph.D. '12).

THIMBY House Project Is Well Underway!

June 28, 2016

The Tiny House in My Backyard (THIMBY) is an interdisciplinary team of UC Berkeley graduate and undergraduate students working together to design and build an affordable, off-grid, 100% solar-powered “tiny” ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Siegner Presents National Farm to Cafeteria Conference

June 24, 2016

ERGie Laney Siegner (MA ’16) presented her research at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Madison, WI held throughout June 4-5th.  Along with practitioners of this field, Laney spoke about integrating ... Continue Reading »

ERG Student Receives the Global Food Initiative 30 under 30 Award

June 22, 2016

"One of the main challenges of her generation is 'ensuring the food system provides healthy foods while minimizing its environmental and social impact. [...]'"

It Can Work ERG PhD Student Aden in New York Times: Economies Rise as Emissions Fall? Yes

April 6, 2016

The New York Times featured ERG PhD student Nate Aden in an article on Decoupling Economic Growth from Carbon Emissions.

ERG Professor Daniel Kammen Appointed as U.S. Science Envoy

March 31, 2016

ERG Professor Daniel Kammen has been appointed as one of five U.S. Science Envoys by the US State Department.

ERG PhDs: Making Powering Africa a Reality

January 28, 2016

ERG PhD students Ranjit Deshmukh and Grace Wu share their research on Africa's leap toward clean and affordable energy with World Policy.

Kammen: Are Universities Making a Difference on Climate?

January 27, 2016

ERG Professor, Dan Kammen, comments on the impact University researchers have on Climate Change.

ERG at the Paris Climate Talks

December 1, 2015

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris has begun and will continue until December 11th. Energy and Resources Group faculty, students and alumni will be playing an active role at the conference and the many peripheral activities.

Energy and Environment- Understanding China’s non-fossil energy targets.

November 28, 2015

ERG student John Romankiewicz and ERG alumni Joanna Lewis share their research on China's energy targets and the transparency in international negotiations with Science.

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.

Study: Volkswagen’s emissions cheat to cause 60 premature deaths in U.S.

November 6, 2015

ERG professor Daniel Kammen provides insight on recent research pertaining to the VW scandal.

Beyond emissions: The promise of products from captured carbon

November 6, 2015

ERG Ph.D candidate, Daniel Sanchez, shares his research on capturing, sequestering and burning carbon with GreenBiz.

2015 ITRI-Rosenfeld Fellowship Winners Announced

November 4, 2015

Congratulations to ERG postdoctoral fellow Peter Alstone, who was recently announced a winner of the 2015 ITRI-Rosenfeld Postdoctoral Fellowship.

but scientists say the work’s just begun. Obama’s Clean Power Plan is finally out

August 5, 2015

ERG Professor Daniel Kammen was featured in two magazine publications regarding Obama's Clean Power Plan and the impacts it might have on the U.S. population.

China’s Energy Choices To Pave The Way For The World

June 26, 2015

ERG students Anne-Perrine Avrin (MS'15) will be presenting her research at the Our Common Future Under Climate Change conference held in Paris, France from 7-10 July 2015.

Rand Receives DOE Award for Wind Advocacy

May 19, 2015

DOE's Wind Program honors ERG graduate student for impact on wind power advocacy

Golden Represents UC Berkeley in Sacramento

May 15, 2015

ERG graduate student advises state legislators about graduate research

NSF & More ERG Awards: Switzer Fellowships

May 14, 2015

3 current Switzer fellows, 2 more NSF fellows, and more. See the list of awards ERG students have received.

Torn Awarded Honorary Doctorate

May 6, 2015

ERG professor recognized for climate research at the University of Zurich

meet with President Napolitano UC students tour peach farm

April 22, 2015

ERG grad student, Kripa Jagannathan, discusses her research on aligning climate models for farmer needs with the UC president

ERG Students Achieve National Recognition for Groundbreaking Studies

April 16, 2015

Celebrating Earth Week, Grad Div features groundbreaking environmental research by ERG students.

Cooley (MS’04) on CA Drought in NYT

April 5, 2015

“Folks realize we have now reached the limits of supply, so the focus is on demand.”

BOOK: Applying Anthropology and Physics to Sustainability

March 30, 2015

New book by Dove and Kammen released this week.

A unique moment in history for “sustainable energy for all”

March 26, 2015

ERG team study showing how off-grid power can improve equality in energy access published in Nature Climate Change. Interview with lead author Peter Alstone.

Equitable Planet Possibilities For A Sustainable

March 25, 2015

ERG core and affiliated faculty present at conference, “Reducing Inequality in a Sustainable World.”

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.

First Direct Observation of Carbon Dioxide’s Increasing Greenhouse Effect at the Earth’s Surface

February 28, 2015

Paper published in Nature by Daniel Feldman and other LBL scientists, including ERG core faculty Margaret Torn.

ERG Grad Student Selected To Represent UC Berkeley in Sacramento

February 6, 2015

Rachel Golden will share her views in the state capital in April.

Calculating the Footprint of the Caribbeans

December 23, 2014

The carbon footprint of the Virgin Islands by Dr. Daniel Kammen and PhD candidates Rebekah Shirley & Christopher Jones cited in St Croix news.

Anthoff & Team in Science on Social Cost of Carbon Pizer

December 6, 2014

Which way forward for the social cost of carbon? Environmental economists explain next steps in Science Magazine.

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.

New Climate Policy Course at ERG

November 17, 2014

In Spring 2015, ERG offers an interdisciplinary, graduate-level survey of historical & current efforts to regulate GHG emissions in the US.

UC Berkeley Ranks 1st in the World for Environment

October 29, 2014

Subject-specific rankings from US New & World Report are based on academic research performance in those subjects.

Profs. Leach & Ray Launch UN Gender Equality Report

October 24, 2014

Dr. Isha Ray at UN Headquarters discussing report on gender equality.

Water Quality: Woelfle-Erskine’s Search for Salmon

October 10, 2014

“As the dry season becomes more intense and rainfall more erratic, we’d expect to see this pattern propagating northward.”

RAEL at UN Climate Summit

September 26, 2014

SWITCH model selected as a "Project to Watch" by the UN's Big Data Climate Challenge.

Dr. Kammen on the Commitment Accounting Conversation in NYT

August 29, 2014

How should we count carbon? New dialogue on power plants sparked by recent Environmental Research Letters paper.

Professor Harte Featured in DOE’s Symmetry

August 20, 2014

He transitioned from physics to ecology. And at ERG, he's not the only one.

Rethinking Energy on Islands

April 25, 2014

Rebekah Shirley (ERG PhD) and Professor Dan Kammen show how small-scale energy can work in the Pacific Islands.

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.

plus Fulbright & Ashoka Six ERG students awarded NSF

April 3, 2014

ERG students have recently been awarded NSF, Fulbright and Ashoka Fellowships. See the full list of fellowships awarded to current students.

50% of U.S. household carbon footprint Suburban sprawl

January 8, 2014

Chris Jones (ERG PhD) and Prof. Dan Kammen point out that U.S. households are responsible for about 20% of annual worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, which are driving climate change.

Clean energy future: Kammen and Wolfram talk it out on NPR

November 30, 2013

ERG's Kammen and Haas' Wolfram don't exactly see eye-to-eye on energy in NPR interview.

ERG students win United Nations award

November 13, 2013

Jalel Sager (PhD candidate) and Austin Cappon (Minor) head to Nairobi, Kenya to pick up UN prize for a sustainable energy development project in Vietnam.