Parth Vaishnav
Assistant Professor
School for Environment and Sustainability
- Ph.D. Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 2015
- M.Phil. Technology Policy, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2011
- Master of Technological Design, National University of Singapore and Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands, 200
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Minor in Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, 2003
My research aims to understand how technology can help solve social problems. Much of my work focuses on the consequences of energy production and use for the environment, human health, and for equity. I employ quantitative decision analysis, buttressed by qualitative insight, to understand how economic, political, and operational realities constrain technology deployment.
I focus on finding strategies to decarbonize the economy, and to adapt to the warming that has and will occur even if we cut greenhouse gas emissions very rapidly. These strategies must promote environmental, energy, and economic justice to be truly sustainable, and—in a democratic society—to be feasible at all. As such, my research focuses not only on the benefits and costs of different strategies but pays careful attention to who reaps the benefits and who bears the costs. My projects fall into two broad categories:
- The environmental consequences of electrification
- The consequences of automation for the environment, equity, and work
HONORS & AWARDS:
Second runner up of the ES&T Best Paper Award for Best Policy Article in 2020! Parth Vaishnav and Adilla Mulia Fatimah. The Environmental Consequences of Electrifying Space Heating. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2020, 54 (16), pp 9814–9823.